4 


SHERWOOD 


'IT  was  the  king  come  home  from  the  crusade 

Page  133 


SHERWOOD 

OR 

ROBIN   HOOD   AND   THE 

THREE   KINGS 

A  Play  in  Five  Acts 

BY 

ALFRED    NOYES 

// 


Sherwood,  in  the  Twilight, 
is  Robin  Hood  Awake?" 


CAUFO&KtA 


NEW  YORK 

FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


-> 


Copyright,  igu,  by 
Frederick  A.  Stokes  Company 


All  rights  reserved,  including  that  of  translation  into  foreign 
languages,  including  the  Scandinavian. 


h 


•  •»•        •  •     •  •*•*•• 

•  •  1  •  S  ■  •  i i  I  ••  •     •  •• 

•  •••#••••••••     •  •••••    • 


PERSONS  OF  THE  DRAMA 


Robin 


Earl  of  Huntingdon,  known 
Robin  Hood." 


as 


Outlaws    and    followers    of 
"  Robin  Hood." 


Little  John 
Friar  Tuck  .... 
Will  Scarlet     .     .     . 
Reynold  Green  leaf     . 
Much,    the    Miller's 

Son 

Alan-a-Dale       ... 

Prince  John. 

King  Richard,  Cceur  de 

Lion. 

Blondel King  Richard's  minstrel 

Oberon King  of  the  Fairies, 

Titania    .      .      .      .      .!     Queen  of  the  Fairies. 

Puck A  Fairy. 

The   Sheriff   of   Not- 


tingham. 

FlTZ  WALTER     .        .        . 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf    . 
Arthur  Plantagenet 


Queen  Elinor    . 


•  •• 


Marian  Fitzwalter"  ." 


Jenny       .      . 
Widow  Scarlet 
Prioress  of  Kirklee 


Father  of  Marian,  known  as 

"  Maid  Marian." 
A  Fool. 

Nephew  to   Prince  John,   a 

boy  of  about  ten  years  of 

age. 

t  Mother  of.  P/jnce  John  and 

•  ;  'Richard*  {Jon-heart. 

'Known  as  Maid  Marian,  be- 

•  ttrothe^'  ivBgfrn  Hood. 
'Maid*  t&  *Mariah.  * 
Mother  of  Will  Scarlet. 


Fairies,  merry  men,  serfs,  peasants,  mercenaries, 
an  abbot,  a  baron,  a  novice,  nuns,  courtiers, 
soldiers,  retainers,  etc. 


438451 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
Robin  Hood 


FACING 
PAGE 


"  It  was  the  King  come  home  from  the  crusade  " 

Frontispiece 

"  What  weary  souls  by  grace  of  Robin  Hood 
This  night  shall  enter  Dreamland  "     ....     20 

"  A  happy  bridegroom  with  the  happy  bride  "     .      .144 

"  He  cannot  enter  now. 
The  gates  are  closed  against  him." 222 


ACT  I 


ACT  I 

Scene  I.  Night.  The  borders  of  the  forest. 
The  smouldering  embers  of  a  Saxon  home- 
stead. The  Sheriff  and  his  men  are  strug- 
gling with  a  Serf.- 

serf 
No,  no,  not  that!  not  that!     If  you  should  blind 

mc 
God  will  repay  you.     Kill  me  out  of  hand  1 
[Enter  Prince  John  and  several  of  his  retainers.] 

JOHN 
Who  is  this  night-jar? 

[The  retainers  laugh.] 

Surely,  master  Sheriff, 
You  should  have  cut  its  tongue  out,  first.     Its  cries 
Tingle  so  hideously  across  the  wood 
They'll  wake  the  King  in  Palestine.    Small  wonder. 
That  Robin  Hood  evades  you. 

SHERIFF 

[To  the  Serf.] 

Silence,  dog, 
Know  you  not  better  than  to  make  this  clamour 
Before  Prince  John? 

[3] 


;:;;;*:S5«-B:rWood 


SERF 

Prince  John!     It  is  Prince  John! 
For  God's  love  save  me,  sir ! 

JOHN 

Whose  thrall  is  he? 

SHERIFF 

I  know  not,  sir,  but  he  was  caught  red-handed 
Killing  the  king's  deer.     By  the  forest  law 
He  should  of  rights  be  blinded;  for,  as  you  see, 

[He  indicates  the  Serf's  right  hand.~\ 
'Tis  not  his  first  deer  at  King  Richard's  cost. 

JOHN 
'Twill  save  you  trouble  if  you  say  at  mine. 

SHERIFF 

Ay,  sir,  I  pray  your  pardon — at  your  cost ! 

His  right  hand  lacks  the  thumb  and  arrow-finger, 

And  though  he  vows  it  was  a  falling  tree 

That  crushed  them,  you  may  trust  your  Sheriff,  sir, 

It  was  the  law  that  clipped  them  when  he  last 

Hunted  your  deer. 

SERF 

Prince,  when  the  Conqueror  came, 
They  burned  my  father's  homestead  with  the  rest 

[4] 


SHERWOOD 


To  make  the  King  a  broader  hunting-ground. 
I  have  hunted  there  for  food.     How  could  I  bear 
To  hear  my  hungry  children  crying?     Prince, 
They'll  make  good  bowmen  for  your  wars,  one 
day. 

JOHN 
He  is  much  too  fond  of  '  Prince  ' :  he'll  never  live 
To  see  a  king.     Whose  thrall  ?  —  his  iron  collar, 
Look,  is  the  name  not  on  it? 

SHERIFF 

Sir,  the  name 
Is  filed  away,  and  in  another  hour 
The  ring  would  have  been  broken.     He's  one  of 

those 
Green  adders  of  the  moon,  night-creeping  thieves 
Whom  Huntingdon  has  tempted  to  the  woods. 
These  desperate  ruffians  flee  their  lawful  masters 
And  flock  around  the  disaffected  Earl 
Like  ragged  rooks  around  an  elm,  by  scores  I 
And  now,  i'  faith,  the  sun  of  Huntingdon 
Is  setting  fast.     They've  well  nigh  beggared  him, 
Eaten  him  out  of  house  and  home.     They  say 
That,  when  we  make  him  outlaw,  we  shall  find 
Nought  to  distrain  upon,  but  empty  cupboards. 

JOHN 

Did  you  not  serve  him  once,  yourself? 

[5] 


SHERWOOD 


SHERIFF 

Oh,  ay, 

He  was  more  prosperous  then.     But  now  my  cup- 
boards 
Are  full,  and  his  are  bare.     Well,  I'd  think  scorn 
To  share  a  crust  with  outcast  churls  and  thieves, 
Doffing  his  dignity,  letting  them  call  him 
Robin,  or  Robin  Hood,  as  if  an  Earl 
Were  just  a  plain  man,  which  he  will  be  soon, 
When  we  have  served  our  writ  of  outlawry! 
'Tis  said  he  hopes  much  from  the  King's  return 
And  swears  by  Lion-heart ;  and  though  King  Rich- 
ard 
Is  brother  to  yourself,  'tis  all  the  more 
Ungracious,  sir,  to  hope  he  should  return, 
And  overset  your  rule.     But  then  —  to  keep 
Such  base  communications !   Myself  would  think  it 
Unworthy,  of  my  sheriffship,  much  more 
Unworthy  a  right  Earl. 

JOHN 

You  talk  too  much ! 
This  whippet,  here,  slinks  at  his  heel,  you  say. 
Mercy  may  close  her  eyes,  then.     Take  him  off, 
Blind  him  or  what  you  will;  and  let  him  thank 
His  master  for  it.     But  wait  —  perhaps  he  knows 
Where  we  may  trap  this  young  patrician  thief. 
Where  is  your  master  ? 

[6] 


SHERWOOD 


SERF 

Where  you'll  never  find  him. 

JOHN 

Oh,  ho !  the  dog  is  faithful !     Take  him  away. 
Get  your  red  business  done.     I  shall  require 
Your  men  to  ride  with  me. 

SHERIFF 

[To  his  men.'] 

Take  him  out  yonder, 
A  bow-shot  into  the  wood,  so  that  his  clamour 
Do  not  offend  my  lord.      Delay  no  time, 
The  irons  are  hot  by  this.     They'll  give  you  light 
Enough  to  blind  him  by. 

SERF 

[Crying  out  and  struggling  as  he  is  forced  back 

into  the  forest.] 

No,  no,  not  that! 
God  will  repay  you !     Kill  me  out  of  hand ! 

SHERIFF 

[To  Prince  John.] 
There  is  a  kind  of  justice  in  all  this. 
The  irons  being  heated  in  that  fire,  my  lord, 
Which  was  his  hut,  aforetime. 
[Some  of  the  men  take  the  glowing  irons  from  the 
fire  and  follow  into  the  wood.] 

[7] 


SHERWOOD 


There's  no  need 
To  parley  with  him,  either.     The  snares  are  laid 
For  Robin  Hood.     He  goes  this  very  night 
To  his  betrothal  feast. 

JOHN 

Betrothal  feast! 

SHERIFF 

At  old  Fitzwalter's  castle,  sir. 

JOHN 

Ha!  ha! 
There   will   be    one   more    guest   there    than   he 

thought ! 
Ourselves  are  riding  thither.     We  intended 
My  Lady  Marian  for  a  happier  fate 
Than  bride  to  Robin  Hood.     Your  plans  arc  laid 
To  capture  him  ? 

SHERIFF 
[Consequentially.] 
It  was  our  purpose,  sir, 
To  serve  the  writ  of  outlawry  upon  him 
And  capture  him  as  he  came  forth. 

JOHN 

That's  well. 
Then  —  let  him  disappear  —  you  understand? 

[8] 


SHERWOOD 


SHERIFF 

I    have   your    warrant,    sir?     Death?     A    great 
Earl? 

JOHN 
Why,  first  declare  him  outlawed  at  his  feast ! 
'Twill  gladden  the  tremulous  heart  of  old  Fitz- 

waltcr 
With  his  prospective  son-in-law ;  and  then  — 
No  man  will  overmuch  concern  himself 
Whither  an  outlaw  goes.     You  understand? 

SHERIFF 
It  shall  be  done,  sir. 

JOHN 

But  the  Lady  Marian! 
By  heaven,   I'll  take  her.     I'll  banish  old  Fitz- 

walter 
If  he  prevent  my  will  in  this.     You'll  bring 
How  many  men  to  ring  the  castle  round? 

SHERIFF 

A  good  five  score  of  bowmen. 
JOHN 

Then  I'll  take  her 
This  very  night  as  hostage  for  Fitzwalter, 
Since  he  consorts  with  outlaws.     These  grey  rats 

[9] 


SHERWOOD 


Will  gnaw  my  kingdom's  heart  out.  For  'tis 
mine, 

This  England,  now  or  later.     They  that  hold 

By  Richard,  as  their  absent  king,  would  make 

My  rule  a  usurpation.     God,  am  I 

My  brother's  keeper? 

[  There  is  a  cry  in  the  forest  from  the  Serf,  who 
immediately  afterwards  appears  at  the  edge 
of  the.  glade,  shaking  himself  free  from  his 
guards.  He  seizes  a  weapon  and  rushes  at 
Prince  John.  One  of  the  retainers  runs 
him  through  and  he  falls  at  the  Prince's 
feet.} 

JOHN 

That's  a  happy  answer! 

SHERIFF 

'[Stooping  over  the  body.] 
He  is  dead. 

JOHN 
I  am  sorry.     It  were  better  sport 
To  send  him  groping  like  a  hoodman  blind 
Through  Sherwood,  whimpering  for  his   Robin. 

Come, 
I'll  ride  with  you  to  this  betrothal  feast. 
Now  for  my  Lady  Marian! 
[Exeunt    all.     A     pause.      The    scene    darkens. 

[IO] 


SHERWOOD 


Shadowy  figures  creep  out  from  the  thickets, 
of  old  men,  women  and  children.] 

FIRST   OLD   MAN 

[Stretching  his  arms  up  to  Heaven,"] 
God,  am  I 
My  brother's  keeper?     Witness,  God  in  heaven, 
He  said  it  and  not  we  —  Cain's  word,  he  said  it ! 

FIRST  WOMAN 
[Kneeling  by  the  body.] 

0  Father,  Father,  and  the  blood  of  Abel 
Cries  to  thee ! 

A   BLIND   MAN 

Is  there  any  light  here  still? 

1  feel  a  hot  breath  on  my  face.     The  dark 
Is  better  for  us  all.     I  am  sometimes  glad 
They  blinded  me  those  many  years  ago. 
Princes  are  princes;  and  God  made  the  world 
For  one  or  two  it  seems.     Well,  I  am  glad 

I  cannot  see  His  world. 

FIRST   WOMAN 

[Still  by  the  body  and  whispering  to  the  others.] 

Keep  him  away. 
'Tis  as  we  thought.     The  dead  man  is  his  son. 
Keep  him  away,  poor  soul.     He  need  not  know. 


SHERWOOD 


[Some   of   the   men   carry    the   body   among   the 
thickets.'] 

A   CHILD 

Mother,  I'm  hungry,  I'm  hungry  I 

FIRST   OLD   MAN 

There's  no  food 
For  any  of  us  to-night.     The  snares  are  empty, 
And  I  can  try  no  more. 

THE   BLIND   MAN 

Wait  till  my  son 
Comes  back.     He's  a  rare  hunter  is  my  boy. 
You  need  not  fret,  poor  little  one.     My  son 
Is  much  too  quick  and  clever  for  the  Sheriff. 
He'll  bring  you  something  good.     Why,  ha !  ha  I 

ha! 
Friends,  I've  a  thought  —  the  Sheriff's  lit  the  fire 
Ready  for  us  to  roast  our  meat.     Come,  come, 
Let  us  be  merry  while  we  may !  t    My  boy 
Will  soon  come  back  with  food  for  the  old  folks. 
The  fire  burns  brightly,  eh? 

SECOND   OLD  MAN 

The  fire  that  feeds 
On   hope    and   eats   our  hearts    away.     They've 

burnt 
Everything,  everything ! 

[12] 


SHERWOOD 


THE    BLIND   MAN 

Ah,  princes  are  princes! 
But  when  the  King  comes  home  from  the  Crusade, 
We  shall  have  better  times. 

\ 
FIRST   OLD   MAN 

Ay,  when  the  King 
Comes  home  from  the  Crusade. 

CHILD 

Mother,  I'm  hungry. 

SECOND   WOMAN 

Oh,  but  if  I  could  only  find  a  crust 

Left  by  the  dogs.     Masters,  the  child  will  starve. 

We  must  have  food. 

THE    BLIND   MAjST 

I  tell  you  when  my  boy 
Comes  back,  we  shall  have  plenty ! 

FIRST   WOMAN 

God  pity  thee! 

THE    BLIND   MAN 
What  dost  thou  mean? 

SECOND   WOMAN 

Masters,  the  child  will  starve. 

[13] 


SHERWOOD 


FIRST   OLD   MAN 

Hist,  who  comes  here  —  a  forester? 


THE    BLIND   MAN 


We'd  best 


Slip  back  into  the  dark. 


FIRST   WOMAN 

[Excitedly.] 

No,  stay !     All's  well. 
There's  Shadow-of-a-Leaf,   good  Lady  Marian's 

fool 
Beside  him ! 

THE   BLIND   MAN 

Ah,  they  say  there's  fairy  blood 
In  Shadow-of-a-Leaf.     But  I've  no  hopes  of  more 
From  him,  than  wild  bees'  honey-bags. 
[Enter  Little  John,  a  giant  figure,  leading  a 
donkey,  laden  with  a  sack.     On   the  other 
side,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf  trips,  a  slender  fig- 
ure in  green  trunk-hose  and  doublet.     He  is 
tickling  the  donkey's  ears  with  a  long  fern.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Gee!     Whoa  I 

Neddy,  my  boy,  have  you  forgot  the  Weaver, 
And  how  Titania  tickled  your  long  ears  ? 
Ha !  ha  !     Don't  ferns  remind  you  ? 

[14] 


SHERWOOD 


LITTLE   JOHN 

Friends,  my  master 
Hath  sent  me  to  you,  fearing  ye  might  hunger. 


Thy  master? 


FIRST   OLD   MAN 


LITTLE   JOHN 

Robin  Hood. 


SECOND   WOMAN 
[Falling  on  her  knees.] 

God  bless  his  name. 
God  bless  the  kindly  name  of  Robin  Hood. 

LITTLE   JOHN 
[Handing  them  the  sack.] 
'Tis  well  nigh  all  that's  left  him ;  and  to-night 
He  goes  to  his  betrothal  feast. 
[All  the  outcasts  except  the  first  old  man  exeunt. ] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 
[Pointing  to  the  donkey.] 

Now  look, 
There's  nothing  but  that  shadow  of  a  cross 
On  his  grey  back  to  tell  you  of  the  palms 
That  once  were  strewn  before  my  donkey's  feet. 
Won't  ferns,  won't  branching  ferns,   do  just  as 
well? 

[15] 


SHERWOOD 


There's  only  a  dream  to  ride  my  donkey  now ! 
But,  Neddy,  I'll  lead  you  home  and  cry  —  Ho- 

SANNA ! 

We'll  thread  the  glad  Gate  Beautiful  again, 
Though  now  there's  only  a   Fool  to  hold  your 

bridle 
And  only  moonlit  ferns  to  strew  your  path, 
And  the  great  King  is  fighting  for  a  grave 
In  lands  beyond  the  sea.     Come,  Neddy,  come, 
Hosanna ! 

[Exit  Shadow-OF-A-Leaf  with  the  donkey.     He 
strews  ferns  before  it  as  he  goes.] 

FIRST   OLD   MAN 

'Tis  a  strange  creature,  master !     Thinkest 
There's  fairy  blood  in  him? 

LITTLE   JOHN 

'Twas  he  that  brought 
Word  of  your  plight  to  Robin  Hood.     He  flits 
Like  Moonshine  thro'  the  forest.     He'll  be  home 
Before  I  know  it.     I  must  be  hastening  back. 
This  makes  a  sad  betrothal  night. 

FIRST   OLD   MAN 

That  minds  me, 
Couched  in  the  thicket  yonder,  we  overheard 
The  Sheriff  tell  Prince  John     .     .     . 
[16] 


SHERWOOD 


LITTLE   JOHN 

Prince  John! 

FIRST   OLD   MAN 

You'd  best 
Warn  Robin  Hood.     They're  laying  a  trap  for 

him. 
Ay !     Now  I  mind  me  of  it !     I  heard  'em  say 
They'd  take  him  at  the  castle. 

LITTLE    JOHN 

To-night  ? 

FIRST   OLD   MAN 

To-night ! 
Fly,    lad,    for    God's    dear    love.     Warn    Robin 

Hood! 
Fly  like  the  wind*  or  you'll  be  there  too  late. 
And  yet  you'd  best  be  careful.     There's  five  score 
In  ambush  round  the  castle. 

LITTLE    JOHN 

I'll  be  there 
An  if  I  have  to  break  five  hundred  heads! 
[He  rushes  off  thro1  the  forest.  The  old  man 
goes  into  the  thicket  after  the  others.  The 
scene  darkens.  A  soft  light,  as  of  the  moon, 
appears  between  the  ferns  to  the  right  of  the 
glade,  showing  Oberon  and  Titania.] 

[17] 


SHERWOOD 


TITANIA 

Yet  one  night  more  the  gates  of  fairyland 
Are  opened  by  a  mortal's  kindly  deed. 

OBERON 

Last  night  the  gates  were  shut,  and  I  heard  weep- 
ing! 

Men,  women,  children,  beat  upon  the  gates 

That  guard  the  City  of  Sleep.  They  could  not 
sleep. 

Titania,  must  not  that  be  terrible, 

When  mortals  cannot  sleep? 

TITANIA 

Yet  one  night  more 
Dear  Robin  Hood  has  opened  the  gates  wide 
And  their  poor  weary  souls  can  enter  in. 

OBERON 

Yet  one  night  more  we  woodland  elves  may  steal 
Out  thro'  the  gates.     I  fear  the  time  will  come 
When  they  must  close  for  ever;  and  we  no  more 
Shall  hold  our  Sherwood  revels. 

TITANIA 

Only  love 
And  love's  kind  sacrifice  can  open  them. 
For  when  a  mortal  hurts  himself  to  help 
[18] 


SHERWOOD 


Another,  then  he  thrusts  the  gates  wide  open 
Between  his  world  and  ours. 

OBERON 

Ay,  but  that's  rare, 
That  kind  of  love,  Titania,  for  the  gates 
Are  almost  always  closed. 

TITANIA 

Yet  one  night  more! 
Hark,  how  the  fairy  host  begins  to  sing 
Within  the  gates.     Wait  here  and  we  shall  see 
What  weary  souls  by  grace  of  Robin  Hood 
This    night    shall   enter    Dreamland.     See,    they 

come! 
[  The  soft  light  deepens  in  the  hollow  among  the 
ferns  and  the  ivory  gates  of  Dreamland  are 
seen    swinging    open.      The    fairy    host    is 
heard,  singing  to  invite  the  mortals  to  enter. ] 

[Song  of  the  fairies.] 

The  Forest  shall  conquer !     The  Forest  shall 
conquer!     The  Forest  shall  conquer! 

Your  world  is  growing  old; 
But  a  Princess  sleeps  in  the  green-wood, 

Whose  hair  is  brighter  than  gold. 

[19] 


SHERWOOD 


The  Forest  shall  conquer !     The  Forest  shall 
conquer!     The  Forest  shall  conquer! 

O  hearts  that  bleed  and  burn, 
Her  lips  are  redder  than  roses, 

Who  sleeps  in  the  faery  fern. 

The  Forest  shall  conquer !     The  Forest  shall 
conquer!     The  Forest  shall  conquer! 

By  the  Beauty  that  wakes  anew 
Milk-white  with  the  fragrant  hawthorn 

In  the  drip  of  the  dawn-red  dew. 

The  Forest  shall  conquer !     The  Forest  shall 
conquer!     The  Forest  shall  conquer! 

O  hearts  that  are  weary  of  pain, 
Come  back  to  your  home  in  Faerie 

And  wait  till  she  wakes  again. 

[The  victims  of  the  forest-laws  steal  out  of  the 
thicket  once  more  —  dark,  distorted,  lame, 
blind,  serfs  with  iron  collars  round  their 
necks,  old  men,  women  and  children;  and  as 
the  fairy  song  breaks  into  chorus  they  pass 
in  procession  thro*  the  beautiful  gates.  The 
gates  slowly  close.  The  fairy  song  is  heard 
as  dying  away  in  the  distance.] 


[20] 


THIS    NIGHT    SHALL    ENTER    DREAMLAND^  Page    19 


SHERWOOD 


TITANIA 

[Coming  out  into  the  glade  and  holding  up  her 
hands  to  the  evening  star  beyond  the  tree- 
tops.] 

Shine,  shine,  dear  star  of  Love,  yet  one  night 
more. 


Scene  II.  A  banqueting  hall  in  Fitzwalter's 
castle.  The  guests  are  assembling  for  the 
betrothal  feast  of  Robin  and  Marian. 
Some  of  Robin  Hood's  men,  clad  in  Lincoln 
green,  are  just  arriving  at  the  doors. 
Shadow-OF-A-Leaf  runs  forward  to  greet 
them! 

shadow-of-a-leaf 
Come  in,  my  scraps  of  Lincoln  green ;  come  in, 
My  slips  of   greenwood.     You're  much  wanted 

here! 
Head,  heart  and  eyes,  we  are  all  pent  up  in  walls 
Of  stone  —  nothing  but  walls  on  every  side  — 
And  not  a  rose  to  break  them  —  big  blind  walls, 
Neat  smooth  stone  walls!     Come  in,  my  ragged 

robins ; 
Come  in,  my  jolly  minions  of  the  moon, 
My  straggling  hazel-boughs!     Hey,  bully  friar, 
Come  in,  my  knotted  oak !     Ho,  little  Much, 

[21] 


SHERWOOD 


Come    in,    my    sweet    green    linnet.     Come,    my 

cushats, 
Larks,  yellow-hammers,  fern-owls,  Oh,  come  in, 
Come  in,  my  Dian's  foresters,  and  drown  us 
With  may,  with  blossoming  may! 

FITZWALTER 

Out,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf ! 
Welcome,  welcome,  good  friends  of  Huntingdon, 
Or  Robin  Hood,  by  whatsoever  name 
You  best  may  love  him. 

CRIES 

Robin  !     Robin !     Robin ! 
[Enter  Robin  Hood.] 

FITZWALTER 

Robin,  so  be  it !  Myself  I  am  right  glad 
To  call  him  at  this  bright  betrothal  feast 
My  son. 

[Lays  a  hand  on  Robin's  shoulder.'] 
Yet,  though  I  would  not  cast  a  cloud 
Across  our  happy  gathering,  you'll  forgive 
An  old  man  and  a  father  if  he  sees 
All  your  glad  faces  thro'  a  summer  mist 
Of  sadness. 

ROBIN 
Sadness?     Yes,  I  understand. 
[22] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 

No,  Robin,  no,  you  cannot  understand. 

ROBIN 

Where's  Marian? 

^      FITZWALTER 

Ay,  that's  all  you  think  of,  boy. 
But  I  must  say  a  word  to  all  of  you 
Before  she  comes. 

ROBIN 

Why  —  what?     .     .     . 
FITZWALTER 

No  need  to  look 
So  startled;  but  it  is  no  secret  here; 
For  many  of  you  are  sharers  of  his  wild 
Adventures.     Now  I  hoped  an  end  had  come 
To  these,  until  another  rumour  reached  me, 
This  very  day,  of  yet  another  prank. 
You  know,  you  know,  how  perilous  a  road 
My  Marian  must  ride  if  Huntingdon 
Tramples  the  forest-laws  beneath  his  heel 
And,  in  the  thin  disguise  of  Robin  Hood, 
Succours  the  Saxon  outlaws,  makes  his  house 
A  refuge  for  them,  lavishes  his  wealth 
To  feed  their  sick  and  needy. 

[23] 


SHERWOOD 


[The  Sheriff  and  two  of  his  men  appear  in  the 
great  doorway  out  of  sight  of  the  guests.] 

SHERIFF 
[Whispering.] 

Not  yet !  keep  back ! 
One  of  you  go  —  see  that  the  guards  are  set ! 
He  must  not  slip  us. 

FITZWALTER 

Oh,  I  know  his  heart 
Is  gold,  but  this  is  not  an  age  of  gold; 
And  those  who  have  must  keep,  or  lose  the  power 
Even  to  help  themselves.     No  —  he  must  doff 
His  green  disguise  of  Robin  Hood  for  ever, 
And  wear  his  natural  coat  of  Huntingdon. 

ROBIN 

Ah,  which  is  the  disguise?     Day  after  day 
We  rise  and  put  our  social  armour  on, 
A  different  mask  for  every  friend;  but  steel 
Always    to    case    our    hearts.     We    are    all    so 

wrapped, 
So  swathed,  so  muffled  in  habitual  thought 
That  now  I  swear  we  do  not  know  our  souls 
Or  bodies  from  their  winding-sheets ;  but  Custom, 
Custom,  the  great  god  Custom,  all  day  long 
Shovels  the  dirt  upon  us  where  we  lie 

[24] 


SHERWOOD 


Buried  alive  and  dreaming  that  we  stand 
Upright  and  royal.     Sir,  I  have  great  doubts 
About  this  world,  doubts  if  we  have  the  right 
To  sit  down  here  for  this  betrothal  feast 
And  gorge  ourselves  with  plenty,  when  we  know 
That  for  the  scraps  and  crumbs  which  we  let  fall 
And  never  miss,  children  would  kiss  our  hands 
And  women  weep  in  gratitude.     Suppose 
A  man  fell  wounded  at  your  gates,  you'd  not 
Pass  on  and  smile  and  leave  him  there  to  die. 
And  can  a  few  short  miles  of  distance  blind  you? 
■     Miles,  nay,  a  furlong  is  enough  to  close  f 

The  gates  of  mercy.     Must  we  thrust  our  hands    j  |v>*  * 
Into  the  wounds  before  we  can  believe? 
Oh,  is  our  sight  so  thick  and  gross  ?     We  came, 
We  saw,  we  conquered  with  the  Conqueror. 
We  gave  ourselves  broad  lands ;  and  when  our  king 
Desired  a  wider  hunting  ground  we  set 
Hundreds  of  Saxon  homes  a-blaze  and  tossed 
Women  and  children  back  into  the  fire 
If  they  but  wrung  their  hands  against  our  will. 
And  so  we  made  our  forest,  and  its  leaves 
Were  pitiful,  more  pitiful  than  man. 
They  gave  our  homeless  victims  the  same  refuge 
And  happy  hiding  place  they  give  the  birds 
And  foxes.     Then  we  made  our  forest-laws, 
And  he  that  dared  to  hunt,  even  for  food, 
Even  on  the  ground  where  we  had  burned  his  hut, 

[25] 


SHERWOOD 


The    ground    we    had    drenched    with    his    own 

kindred's  blood, 
Poor  foolish  churl,  why,  we  put  out  his  eyes 
With  red-hot  irons,  cut  off  both  his  hands, 
Torture    him    with    such    horrors    that     .     .     . 

Christ  God, 
How  can  I  help  but  fight  against  it  all? 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Ah,  gossips,  if  the  Conqueror  had  but  burned 
Everything  with  four  walls,  hut,  castle,  palace, 
And  turned  the  whole  wide  world  into  a  forest, 
Drenched  us  with  may,  we  might  be  happy  then! 
With   sweet  blue  wood-smoke   curling  thro'   the 

boughs, 
And  just  a  pigeon's  flap  to  break  the  silence, 
And  ferns,  of  course,  there's  much  to  make  men 

happy. 
Well,  well,  the  forest  conquers  at  the  last ! 
I  saw  a  thistle  in  the  castle  courtyard, 
A  purple  thistle  breaking  thro'  the  pavement, 
Yesterday;  and  it's  wonderful  how  soon 
Some  creepers  pick  these  old  grey  walls  to  pieces. 
These  nunneries  and  these  monasteries  now, 
They  don't  spring  up  like  flowers,  so  I  suppose 
Old  mother  Nature  wins  the  race  at  last. 


[26] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 

Robin,  my  heart  is  with  you,  but  I  know 
A  hundred  ages  will  not  change  this  earth. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[With  a  candle  in  his  hand.] 

Gossip,  suppose  the  sun  goes  out  like  this. 
Pouf! 

[Blows  it  out.] 
Stranger  things  have  happened. 

FITZWALTER 

Silence,  fool!     .     . 
So,  if  you  share  your  wealth  with  all  the  world 
Earth  will  be  none  the  better,  and  my  poor  girl 
Will  suffer  for  it.     Where  you  got  the  gold  / 
You  have  already  lavished  on  the  poor 
Heaven  knows. 


FRIAR  TUCK 

Oh,  by  the  mass  and  the  sweet  moon 
Of  Sherwood,  so  do  I  ?     That's  none  so  hard 
A  riddle! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Ah,  Friar  Tuck,  we  know,  we  know! 
Under  the  hawthorn  bough,  and  at  the  foot 
Of  rainbows,  that's  where  fairies  hide  their  gold 

[27] 


SHERWOOD 


Cut  me  a  silver  penny  out  of  the  moon 
Next  time  you're  there. 

[Whispers.'] 
Now  tell  me,  have  you  brought 
Your  quarter-staff? 

FRIAR  TUCK 

[Whispering.] 

Hush!  hush. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Oh,  mum's  the  word! 


I  see  it! 

FITZWALTER 
Believe  me,  Robin,  there's  one  way 
And  only  one  —  patience !     When  Lion-heart 
Comes  home  from  the  Crusade,  he  will  not  brook 
This  blot  upon  our  chivalry.     Prince  John 
Is  dangerous  to  a  heart  like  yours.     Beware 
Of  rousing  him.     Meanwhile,  your  troth  holds 

good; 
But,  till  the  King  comes  home  from  the  Crusade 
You  must  not  claim  your  bride. 

ROBIN 

So  be  it,   then.     .     .     . 
When    the    great    King    comes    home    from    the 
Crusade!     .     .     . 

[28] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 

Meanwhile  for  Marian's  sake  and  mine,  I  pray 
Do  nothing  rash. 

[Enter  Widow  Scarlet.    She  goes  up  to  Robin 
Hood.] 

widow  scarlet 
Are  you  that  Robin  Hood 
They  call  the  poor  man's  friend? 

ROBIN 

I  am. 

WIDOW    SCARLET 

They  told  me, 
They  told  me  I  should  find  you  here.     They  told 
me! 

ROBIN 

Come,  mother,  what's  the  trouble? 

WIDOW   SCARLET 

Sir,  my  son 
Will  Scarlet  lies  in  gaol  at  Nottingham 
For  killing  deer  in  Sherwood!     Sir,  they'll  hang 

him. 
He  only  wanted  food  for  him  and  me ! 
They'll  kill  him,  I  tell  you,  they'll  kill  him.     I 

can't  help 

[29] 


SHERWOOD 


Crying  it  out.     He's  all  I  have,  all !     Save  him  ! 
I'll  pray  for  you,  I'll     .     .     . 

ROBIN 

[To  Fitzwalter,  as  he  raises  Widow  Scarlet 
gently  to  her  feet.'] 

Sir,  has  not  the  King 
Come  home  from  the  Crusade?     Does  not  your 

heart 
Fling  open  wide  its  gates  to  welcome  him  ? 

FITZWALTER 

Robin,    you   set   me    riddles.     Follow   your   con- 
science. 
Do  what  seems  best. 

ROBIN 

I  hope  there  is  a  way, 
Mother.     I  knew  Will  Scarlet.     Better  heart 
There  never  beat  beneath  a  leather  jerkin. 
He  loved  the  forest  and  the  forest  loves  him; 
And  if  the  lads  that  wear  the  forest's  livery 
Of  living  green  should  happen  to  break  out 
And  save  Will  Scarlet  (as  on  my  soul  I  swear, 
Mother,  they  shall!)  why,  that's  a  matter  none 
Shall  answer  for  to  prince,  or  king,  or  God, 
But  you  and  Robin  Hood;  and  if  the  judgment 
Strike  harder  upon  us  than  the  heavenly  smile 

[30] 


SHERWOOD 


Of  sunshine  thro'  the  greenwood,  may  it  fall 
Upon  my  head  alone. 

[Enter  the  Sheriff,  with  two  of  his  men.] 

SHERIFF 

[Reads.] 

In  the  king's  name! 
Thou,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  by  virtue  of  this 
writ  art  hereby  attainted  and  deprived  of  thine 
earldom,  thy  lands  and  all  thy  goods  and  chattels 
whatsoever  and  whereas  thou  hast  at  divers  times 
trespassed  against  the  officers  of  the  king  by  force 
of  arms,  thou  art  hereby  outlawed  and  banished 
the  realm. 

ROBIN 

That's  well. 

[He  laughs.] 
It  puts  an  end  to  the  great  question 
Of  how  I  shall  dispose  my  wealth,  Fitzwalter. 
But    '  banished'?  —  No!    that    is    beyond    their 

power 
While  I  have'  power  to  breathe,  unless  they  banish 
The  kind  old  oaks  of  Sherwood.     They  may  call 

it 
*  Outlawed,'  perhaps. 


[31] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 

Who  let  the  villain  in 
Thro'  doors  of  mine  ? 

CRIES 
Out  with  him !     Out  with  him ! 
[  The  guests  draw  swords  and  the  Sheriff  retreats 
throy  the  doorway  with  his  men.~\ 

ROBIN 

Stop! 
Put  up  your  swords !     He  had  his  work  to  do. 
[Widow  Scarlet  falls  sobbing  at  his  feetJ] 

WIDOW   SCARLET 

O  master,  master,  who  will  save  my  son, 
My  son? 

ROBIN 

[Raising  her."] 
Why,  mother,  this  is  but  a  dream, 

This  poor  fantastic  strutting  show  of  law ! 

And  you  shall  wake  with  us  in  Sherwood  forest 

And  find  Will  Scarlet  in  your  arms  again. 

Come,  cheerly,  cheerly,  we  shall  overcome 

All  this.     Hark! 

[A  bugle  sounds  in  the  distance.  There  is  a 
scuffle  in  the  doorway  and  Little  John 
bursts  in  with  his  head  bleeding.'] 

[32] 


SHERWOOD 


LITTLE   JOHN 

Master,  master,  come  away! 
They  are  setting  a  trap  for  thee,  drawing  their 

lines 
All  round  the  castle. 

ROBIN 

How  now,  Little  John, 
They  have  wounded  thee  I     Art  hurt  ? 

LITTLE   JOHN 

No,  no,  that's  nothing. 
Only  a  bloody  cockscomb.     Come,  be  swift, 
Or,  if  thou  wert  a  fox,  thou'dst  never  slip 
Between  'em.     Ah,  hear  that? 
[Another  bugle  sounds  from  another  direction.] 

That's  number  two. 
Two  sides  cut  off  already.     When  the  third 
Sounds  —  they  will  have  thee,  sure  as  eggs  is  eggs. 
Prince  John  is  there,  Fitzwalter  cannot  save  'ee. 
They'll  burn  the  castle  down. 

ROBIN 

Prince  John  is  there? 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Ay,  and  my  lord  Fitzwalter  had  best  look 
Well  to  my  mistress  Marian,  if  these  ears 

[33] 


SHERWOOD 


Heard  right  as  I  came  creeping  thro'  their  lines. 
Look  well  to  her,  my  lord,  look  well  to  her. 
Come,  master,  come,  for  God's  sake,  come  away. 

FITZWALTER 

Robin,  this  is  thy  rashness.     I  warned  thee,  boy ! 
Prince  John !     Nay,  that's  too  perilous  a  jest 
For  even  a  prince  to  play  with  me.     Come,  Robin, 
You  must  away  and  quickly. 

ROBIN 

Let  me  have 
One  word  with  Marian. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

It  would  be  the  last 
On  earth.     Come,  if  you  ever  wish  to  see 
Her  face  again. 

FITZWALTER 

Come,  Robin,  are  you  mad? 
You'll  bring  us  all  to  ruin ! 

[He  opens  a  little  door  in  the  wall^\ 

The  secret  passage, 
This  brings  you  out  by  Much  the  Miller's  wheel, 
Thro'  an  otter's  burrow  in  the  river  bank. 
Come,    quick,    or  you'll   destroy  us!     Take   this 

lanthorn. 
If  you're  in  danger,  slip  into  the  stream 
[34] 


SHERWOOD 


And  let  it  carry  you  down  into  the  heart 

Of  Sherwood.     Come  now,  quickly,  you  must  go ! 

ROBIN 

The  old  cave,  lads,  in  Sherwood,  you  know  where 
To  find  me.     Friar  Tuck,  bring  Widow  Scarlet 
Thither  to-morrow,  with  a  word  or  two 
From  Lady  Marian! 

FITZWALTER 

Quickly,  quickly,  go. 

[He  pushes  Robin  and  Little  John  into  the 
opening  and  shuts  the  door.     A  pause. ,] 

Oh,  I  shall  pay  for  this,  this  cursed  folly ! 

Henceforth  I  swear  I  wash  my  hands  of  him ! 

[Enter  Marian,  from  a  door  on  the  right  above 
the  banqueting  hall.  She  pauses,  pale  and 
frightened,  on  the  broad  steps  leading  down.~\ 

MARIAN 

Father,  where's  Robin? 

FITZWALTER 

Child,  I  bade  you  stay 
Until  I  called  you. 

MARIAN 
Something  frightened  me ! 
Father,  where's  Robin?     Where's  Robin? 
[35] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 

Hush,  Marian,  hark! 
[All  stand  listening.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Stealing  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs  and  whispering 

to  Lady  Marian.] 
Lady,  they're  all  so  silent  now.     I'll  tell  you 
I  had  a  dream  last  night  —  there  was  a  man 
That  bled  to  death,  because  of  four  gray  walls 
And  a  black-hooded  nun. 

FITZWALTER 
[Angrily.] 

Hist,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf ! 
[The  third  bugle  sounds.      There  is  a  clamour  at 
the  doors.     Enter  Prince  John  and  his  re- 
tainers.] 

JOHN 

[Mockingly.] 
Now  this  is  fortunate !     I  come  in  time 
To  see  —  Oh,  what  a  picture !     Lady  Marian, 
Forgive  me  —  coming  suddenly  out  of  the  dark 
And  seeing  you  there,  robed  in  that  dazzling  white 
Above  these  verdant  gentlemen,  I  feel 
Like  one  that  greets  the  gracious  evening  star 
Thro'  a  gap  in  a  great  wood. 

[36] 


SHERWOOD 


Is  aught  amiss? 
Why  are  you  all  so  silent?     Ah,  my  good, 
My  brave  Fitzwalter,  I  most  fervently 
Trust  I  am  not  inopportune. 

FITZWALTER 

My  lord, 
I  am  glad  that  you  can  jest.     I  am  sadly  grieved 
And  sorely  disappointed  in  that  youth 
Who  has  incurred  your  own  displeasure. 

JOHN 

Ah? 

Your  future  son-in-law? 

FITZWALTER 

Never  on  earth! 
He  is  outlawed  — 

MARIAN 

Outlawed ! 

FITZWALTER 

And  I  wash  my  hands 
Of  Huntingdon.     His  shadow  shall  not  darken 


My  doors  again 


JOHN 

That's  vehement!     Ha!  ha! 
And  what  does  Lady  Marian  say? 

[37] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

My  father 
Speaks  hastily.     I  am  not  so  unworthy. 


FITZWALTER 


Unworthy  ? 


MARIAN 

Yes,  unworthy  as  to  desert  him 
Because  he  is  in  trouble  —  the  bravest  man 
In  England  since  the  days  of  Hereward. 
You  know  why  he  is  outlawed ! 

FITZWALTER 

[To  Prince  John.] 

Sir,  she  speaks 
As  the  spoilt  child  of  her  old  father's  dotage. 
Give  her  no  heed.     She  shall  not  meet  with  him 
On  earth  again,  and  till  she  promise  this, 
She'll  sun  herself  within  the  castle  garden 
And  never  cross  the  draw-bridge. 


MARIAN 


Then  I'll  swim 


The  moat ! 


FRIAR  TUCK 

Ha !  ha !  well  spoken. 
[38] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

Oh,  you  forget, 
Father,  you  quite  forget  there  is  a  King; 
And,  when  the  King  comes  home  from  the  Cru- 
sade, 
[Will  you   forget  Prince  John   and  change   once 
I         more  ? 

\Murmurs  of  assent  from  the  foresters.] 

JOHN 

Enough  of  this. 
Though  I  be  prince,  I  am  vice-gerent  too ! 
Fitzwalter,  I  would  have  some  private  talk 
With  you  and  Lady  Marian.     Bid  your  guests 
Remove  a  little  — 

FITZWALTER 
I'll  lead  them  all  within  I 
And  let  them  make  what  cheer  they  may.     Come, 

friends. 
[He  leads  them  up  the  stairs  to  the  inner  room.] 
My  lord,  I  shall  return  immediately! 

[Exeunt  Fitzwalter  and  the  guests.] 

JOHN 

Marian! 

MARIAN 

My  lord ! 

[39] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 
[Drawing  close  to  her.~\ 

I  have  come  to  urge  a  plea 
On  your  behalf  as  well  as  on  my  own ! 
Listen,  you  may  not  know  it  —  I  must  tell  you. 
I  have  watched  your  beauty  growing  like  a  flower, 
With  —  why  should  I  not  say  it  —  worship ;  yes, 
Marian,  I  will  not  hide  it. 

MARIAN 

Sir,  you  are  mad! 

JOHN 

Listen !     You  cannot  mean  to  waste  your  youth, 
Your  youth,   your  priceless  youth   in   these   dull 

brawls. 
Remember  —  even  you  have  but  one  life, 
One  fleeting  life  to  waste,  and  you  stand  here 
Now,  at  the  cross-roads  of  your  fate.     The  world 
Lies  at  your  feet ;  and  it  is  in  your  power 
To  use  it  for  your  pleasure,  or  throw  it  away 
Like  dross ! 

MARIAN 

I  do  not  understand  you. 

JOHN 

Listen ! 
Come  to  the  court  with  me;  and  you  shall  reign 

[40] 


SHERWOOD 


Queen  over  every  maiden  in  the  land 

By  loveliness  alone.     But  I  will  add 

All  that  a  king  can  give.     Your  dainty  hand 

Shall  sway  all  England  like  one  sceptral  rose. 

MARIAN 

Sir,  and  your  bride,  your  bride,  not  three  months 

wedded ! 
You  cannot  mean     ... 

JOHN 

Listen  to  me!     Ah,  Marian, 
You'd  be  more  merciful  if  you  knew  all ! 
D'you  think  that  princes  wed  to  please  themselves? 

MARIAN 

Sir,  English  maidens  do;  and  I  am  plighted 
Not  to  a  prince,  but  to  an  outlawed  man. 
Sir,  let  me  pass. 

JOHN 

One  word!     Marian,  one  word! 
I  never  meant  you  harm !     Indeed,  what  harm 
Could  come  of  this?     Is  not  your  father  poor? 
I'd  make  him  rich!     Is  not  your  lover  outlawed? 
I'd  save  him  from  the  certain  death  that  waits  him. 
You  say  the  forest-laws  afflict  your  soul 
And  his  —  you  say  you'd  die  for  their  repeal ! 

[41] 


SHERWOOD 


Well  —  I'll  repeal  them.     All  the  churls  in  Eng- 
land 
Shall  bless  your  name  and  mix  it  in  their  prayers 
With  heaven  itself. 

MARIAN 

The  price? 

JOHN 

You  call  it  that! 
To  let  me  lay  the  world  before  your  feet, 
To  let  me  take  this  little  hand  in  mine. 
Why  should  I  hide  my  love  for  you? 

MARIAN 

My  lord, 
I'll  hear  no  more !     I  pray  you  let  me  pass. 

JOHN 

One  word  —  suppose  it  some  small  sacrifice, 
To  save  those  churls  for  whom  you  say  your  heart 
Bleeds ;  yet  you  will  not  lift  your  little  finger 
To   save   them !     And   what   hinders   you  ?  —  A 

breath, 
A  dream,  a  golden  rule !     Can  you  not  break  it 
For  a  much  greater  end? 

MARIAN 

'  I'd  die  to  save  them. 

[42] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

Then  live  to  save  them. 

MARIAN 

No,  you  will  not  let  me; 
D'you  think  that  bartering  my  soul  will  help 
To  save  another?     If  there's  no  way  but  this, 
Then  through  my  lips  those  suffering  hundreds  cry, 
We  choose  the  suffering.     All  that  is  good  in  them, 
All  you  have  left,  all  you  have  not  destroyed, 
Cries  out  against  you ;  and  I'll  go  to  them, 
Suffer  and  toil  and  love  and  die  with  them 
Rather  than  touch  your  hand.     You  over-rate 
Your  power  to  hurt  our  souls.     You  are  mistaken ! 
There  is  a  golden  rule ! 

JOHN 
And  with  such  lips 
You  take  to  preaching!     I  was  a  fool  to  worry 
Your  soul  with  reason.     With  hair  like  yours  — 

it's  hopeless! 
But  Marian  —  you  shall  hear  me. 

[He  catches  her  In  his  arms.] 

Yes,  by  God, 
Marian,  you  shall!     I  love  you. 

MARIAN 
[Struggling.] 

You  should  not  live! 

[  43  ] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

One  kiss,  then !     Devil  take  it. 

[Enter  Fitzwalter  above.] 

MARIAN 

[Wresting  herself  free.] 

You  should  not  live! 
Were  I  a  man  and  not  a  helpless  girl 
You  should  not  live ! 

JOHN 

Come,  now,  that's  very  wicked. 
See    how    these    murderous   words    affright   your 

father. 
My  good  Fitzwalter,  there's  no  need  to  look 
So  ghastly.     For  your  sake  and  hers  and  mine 
I  have  been  trying  to  make  your  girl  forget 
The  name  of  Huntingdon.     A  few  short  months 
At  our  gay  court  would  blot  his  memory  out! 
I  promise  her  a  life  of  dazzling  pleasures, 
And,  in  return  she  flies  at  me  —  a  tigress  — 
Clamouring  for  my  blood !     Try  to  persuade  her ! 

FITZWALTER 

My  lord,  you  are  very  good.     She  must  decide 
Herself. 

JOHN 
[Angrily.'] 
I'll  not  be  trifled  with !     I  hold 
[44] 


SHERWOOD 


The  hand  of  friendship  out  and  you  evade  it. 
The  moment  I  am  gone,  back  comes  your  outlaw. 
You  say  you  have  no  power  with  your  own  child  I 
Well,  then  I'll  take  her  back  this  very  night; 
Back  to  the  court  with  me.     How  do  I  know 
What  treasons  you  are  hatching  here?     I'll  take 

her 
As  hostage  for  yourself. 

FITZWALTER 

My  lord,  you  jest  I 
I  have  sworn  to  you. 

JOHN 

No  more!     If  you  be  loyal, 
What  cause  have  you  to  fear? 

FITZWALTER 

My  lord,  I'll  give 
A  hundred  other  pledges ;  but  not  this. 

JOHN 

By  heaven,  will  you  dictate  your  terms  to  me? 
I  say  that  she  shall  come  back  to  the  court 
This  very  night !     Ho,  there,  my  men. 
[Enter  John's  retainers. 1 

Escort 
This  lady  back  with  us. 

[45] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 

Back  there,  keep  back.     Prince  or  no  prince, 
I  say  she  shall  not  go ! 

[He  draws  his  sword.] 

I'd  rather  see  her 
Begging  in  rags  with  outlawed  Huntingdon 
Than  that  one  finger  of  yours  should  soil  her 
glove. 

JOHN 

So  here's  an  end  of  fawning,  here's  the  truth, 
My  old  white-bearded  hypocrite.     Come,  take  her, 
Waste  no  more  time.     Let  not  the  old  fool  daunt 

you 
With  that  great  skewer. 

FITZWALTER 

[As  John's  men  advance.] 

By  God,  since  you  will  have  it, 
Since  you  will  drive  me  to  my  last  resort, 
Break  down  my  walls,  and  hound  me  to  the  forest, 
This  is  the  truth !  Out  of  my  gates !  Ho,  help ! 
A  Robin  Hood !  A  Robin  Hood ! 
[There  is  a  clamour  from  the  upper  room.  The 
doors  are  flung  open  and  the  foresters  appear 
at  the  head  of  the  steps.] 


[46] 


SHERWOOD 


FRIAR   TUCK 

[Coming  down  into  the  hall  and  brandishing  his 

quarter-staff.] 

How  now? 
Who  calls  on  Robin  Hood?     His  men  are  here 
To  answer. 

FITZWALTER 

Drive  these  villains  out  of  my  gates. 

FRIAR   TUCK 

[To  Prince  John.] 
Sir,  I  perceive  you  are  a  man  of  wisdom, 
So  let  me  counsel  you.     There's  not  a  lad 
Up  yonder,  but  at  four-score  yards  can  shoot 
A  swallow  on  the  wing.     They  have  drunken  deep. 
I  cannot  answer  but  their  hands  might  loose 
Their  shafts  before  they  know  it.     Now  shall  I 

give 
The  word?     Ready,  my  lads! 
[The  foresters  make  ready  to  shoot.     John  hesi- 
tates for  a  moment. ] 

JOHN 

My  Lady  Marian, 
One  word,  and  then  I'll  take  my  leave  of  you ! 

[She  pays  no  heed.~\ 
Farewell,  then !     I  have  five-score  men  at  hand ! 
And  they  shall  be  but  lightning  to  the  hell 

[47] 


SHERWOOD 


Of  my  revenge,  Fitzwalter.     I  will  not  leave 
One  stone  upon  another.     From  this  night's  work 
Shall  God  Himself  not  save  you. 

[Exeunt  John  and  his  men.] 

FRIAR   TUCK 

[As  they  go  out.] 

My  Lord  Fitzwalter  I 
I  have  confessed  him !     Shall  I  bid  'em  shoot  ? 
'Twill  save  a  world  of  trouble. 

FITZWALTER 

No;  or  the  King 
Himself  will  come  against  me.     Follow  them  out, 
Drive  them  out  of  my  gates,  then  raise  the  draw- 
bridge 
And  let  none  cross.     Oh,  I  foresaw,  foretold ! 
Robin  has  wrecked  us  all! 

[Exeunt  the  foresters  and  Fitzwalter. 
Shadow-of-A-Leaf  remains  alone  with 
Marian.] 

MARIAN 

[She  flings  herself  down  on  a  couch  and  buries  her 
head  in  her  arms.] 

O    Robin,  Robin, 
I  cannot  lose  you  now ! 

[48] 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Sitting  at  her  feet.     The  lights  grow  dim.] 
Ah,  well,  the  prince 
Promised  to  break  the  walls  down.     Don't  you 

think 
These  villains  are  a  sort  of  ploughshare,  lady, 
And  where  they  plough,  who  knows  what  wheat 

may  spring ! 
The  lights  are  burning  low  and  very  low ; 
So,  Lady  Marian,  let  me  tell  my  dream. 
There  was  a  forester  that  bled  to  death 
Because  of  four  gray  walls  and  a  black  nun 
Whose  face  I  could  not  see  —  but,  Oh,  beware ! 
Though  I  am  but  your  fool,  your  Shadow-of-a- 

Leaf, 
Dancing  before  the  wild  winds  of  the  future, 
I  feel  them  thrilling  through  my  tattered  wits 
Long   ere   your   wisdom    feels   them.     My  poor 
I  brain 

Is  like  a  harp  hung  in  a  willow  tree 
Swept  by  the  winds  of  fate.     I  am  but  a  fool, 
But  Oh,  beware  of  that  black-hooded  nun. 

MARIAN 

This  is  no  time  for  jesting,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

The  lights  are  burning  low.     Do  you  not  feel 
A  cold  breath  on  your  face  ? 

[49] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

Fling  back  that  shutter ! 
Look  out  and  tell  me  what  is  happening. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Flinging  back  the  shutter. ,] 

Look, 
Look,  gossip,  how  the  moon  comes  dancing  in. 
Ah,    they   have    driven   Prince   John    across   the 

drawbridge. 
They  are  raising  it,  now ! 

[There  are  cries  in  the  distance ,  then  a  heavy 
sound  of  chains  clanking  and  silence. 
Shadow-OF-a-Leaf  turns  from  the  window 
and  stands  in  the  stream  of  moonlight,  point- 
ing  to  the  door  on  the  left.~\ 

Look  1     Look ! 

MARIAN 

[Starting  up  with  a  cry  of  fear.~\ 

Ah! 
[The  tall  figure  of  a  nun  glides  into  the  moonlit 
hall  and  throwing  hack  her  hood  reveals  the 
face  of  Queen  Elinor.] 

ELINOR 

Lady  Marian, 
Tell  me  quickly,  where  is  Huntingdon  hiding? 
[So] 


SHERWOOD 


Queen  Elinor 


MARIAN 
ELINOR 

Oh,  pardon  me,  I  fear 
I  startled  you.     I  donned  this  uncouth  garb 
To  pass  through  your  besiegers.     If  Prince  John 
Discover  it,  all  is  lost.     Come,  tell  me  quickly, 
Where  is  Robin? 

MARIAN 

Escaped,  I  hope. 

ELINOR 

Not  here? 

MARIAN 

No! 

ELINOR 

Come,  dear  Lady  Marian,  do  not  doubt  me. 
I  am  here  to  save  you  both. 

MARIAN 

He  is  not  here. 

ELINOR 

Ah,  but  you  know  where  I  may  find  him,  Marian. 
All  will  be  lost  if  you  delay  to  tell  me 
[SO 


SHERWOOD 


Where  I  may  speak  with  him.     He  is  in  peril. 
By  dawn  Prince  John  will  have  five  hundred  men 
Beleaguering  the  castle.     You  are  all  ruined 
Unless    you    trust   me!     Armies    will    scour    the 
^         woods 

To    hunt    him    down.     Even    now    he    may    be 
wounded, 

Helpless  to  save  himself. 

i 

MARIAN 

Wounded ! 

ELINOR 

Dear  child, 
Take  me  to  him.     Here,  on  this  holy  cross, 
My  mother's  dying  gift,  I  swear  to  you 
I  wish  to  save  him. 

MARIAN 

Oh,  but  how? 

ELINOR 

Trust  me! 

MARIAN 

Wounded!     He    may   be    wounded!     Oh,    if    I 

could, 
I'd  go  to  him !     I  am  helpless,  prisoned  here. 
My  father     .     .     . 

[52] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

I  alone  can  save  your  father. 
Give  me  your  word  that  if  I  can  persuade  him, 
You'll  lead  me  to  your  lover's  hiding  place, 
And  let  me  speak  with  him. 

[Enter  Fitzwalter.] 

Ah,  my  Lord  Fitzwalter ! 

FITZWALTER 

The  queen!     O  madam,  madam,  I  am  driven 
Beyond  myself.     This  girl,  this  foolish  girl 
Has  brought  us  all  to  ruin.     This  Huntingdon, 
As  I  foresaw,  foresaw,  foretold,  foretold, 
Has  dragged  me  down  with  him. 

ELINOR 

I  am  on  your  side, 
If  you  will  hear  me;  and  you  yet  may  gain 
A  son  in  Robin  Hood. 

FITZWALTER 

Madam,  I  swear 
I  have  done  with  him.     I  pray  you  do  not  mock 

me; 
But  if  you'll  use  your  power  to  save  my  lands 
I  shall  be  deeply  grateful.     I  was  provoked! 
Prince  John  required  this  child  here — i 

[53] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

Oh,  I  know! 
But  you'll  forgive  him  that !     I  do  not  wonder 
That  loveliness  like  hers  — 

FITZWALTER 

Ay,  but  you'll  pardon 
A  father's  natural  anger.     Madam,  I  swear 
I  was  indeed  provoked.     But  you'll  assure  him 
I've  washed  my  hands  of  Huntingdon. 

MARIAN 

And  yet 
His  men  are,  even  now,  guarding  your  walls ! 
Father,  you  cannot,  you  shall  not  — 

FITZWALTER 

Oh,  be  silent ! 
Who  wrapt  me  in  this  tangle?     Are  you  bent 
On  driving  me  out  in  my  old  age  to  seek 
Shelter  in  caves  and  woods? 

ELINOR 

My  good  Fitzwalter, 
It  has  not  come  to  that !     If  you  will  trust  me 
All  will  be  well;  but  I  must  speak  a  word 
With  Robin  Hood. 

FITZWALTER 

You! 

[54] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

Oh,  I  have  a  reason. 
Your  daughter  knows  his  hiding  place. 

FITZWALTER 

She  knows! 

ELINOR 

Oh,  trust  them  both  for  that.     I  am  risking  much ! 
To-morrow  she  shall  guide  me  there.     This  bird 
Being  flown,  trust  me  to  make  your  peace  with 
John. 

FITZWALTER 

But  —  Marian! 

ELINOR 

She'll  be  safer  far  with  Robin, 
Than  loitering  here  until  your  roof-tree  burns. 
I  think  you  know  it.     Fitzwalter,  I  can  save  you, 
I  swear  it  on  this  cross. 

FITZWALTER 

But  —  Marian!     Marian! 

ELINOR 
Your  castle  wrapt  in  flame ! 

There's  nought  to  fear, 
If  she  could  —  Marian,  once,  at  a  court  masque, 
You  wore  a  page's  dress  of  Lincoln  green, 

[55] 


SHERWOOD 


And  a  green  hood  that  muffled  half  your  face, 
I  could  have  sworn  'twas  Robin  come  again 
In  his  first  boyhood,  my  sweet  slender  page  I 
Wear  it  to-morrow  —  go,  child,  bid  your  maid 
Make  ready  —  we'll  set  out  betimes. 

MARIAN 

[Going  up  to  her  father. ] 

I'll  go, 

If  you  will  let  me,  father.     He  may  be  wounded! 
Father,  forgive  me.     Let  me  go  to  him. 

ELINOR 

Go,  child,  first  do  my  bidding.     He'll  consent 
When  you  return. 

[Exit  Marian.] 

My  dear  good  friend  Fitzwalter, 
Trust  me,  I  have  some  power  with  Huntingdon. 
All  shall  be  as  you  wish.     I'll  let  her  guide  me, 
But  —  as  for  her  —  she  shall  not  even  see  him 
Unless  you  wish.     Trust  me  to  wind  them  all 
Around  my  little  finger. 

FITZWALTER 

It  is  dark  here. 
Let  us  within.     Madam,  I  think  you  are  right. 
And  you'll  persuade  Prince  John? 

[56] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

[As  they  go  up  the  steps."] 

I  swear  by  this, 
This  holy  cross,  my  mother's  dying  gift! 

FITZWALTER 

It's  very  sure  he'd  burn  the  castle  down. 
[Exeunt.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Coming  out  into  the  moonlight  and  staring  up 

after  them.] 
The   nun!     The    nun!     They'll   whip   me   if    I 

speak, 
For  I  am  only  Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  the  Fool. 
[Curtain.] 


[57] 


ACT  II 


/ 


ACT  II 

Scene  I.  Sherwood  Forest:  An  open  glade, 
showing  on  the  right  the  mouth  of  the  out- 
law's cave.  It  is  about  sunset.  The  giant 
figure  of  Little  John  comes  out  of  the 
cave,  singing. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

[Sings.] 
When  Spring  comes  back  to  England 

And  crowns  her  brows  with  may, 
Round  the  merry  moonlit  world 
She  goes  the  greenwood  way. 
[He  stops  and  calls  in  stentorian  tones, ] 
Much!     Much!     Much!     Where    has    he    van- 
ished now, 
Where  has  that  monstrous  giant  the  miller's  son 
Hidden  himself? 

[Enter  Much,   a   dwarf-like  figure,   carrying  a 
large  bundle  of  ferns."] 

MUCH 

Hush,  hush,  child,  here  I  am! 
And  here's  our  fairy  feather-beds,  ha!  ha! 


SHERWOOD 


Come,   praise   me,   praise   me,    for   a   thoughtful 

parent. 
There's  nothing  makes  a  better  bed  than  ferns 
Either  for  sleeping  sound  or  rosy  dreams. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Take  care  the  fern-seed  that  the  fairies  use 
Get  not  among  thy  yellow  locks,  my  Titan, 
Or  thou'lt  wake  up  invisible.     There's  none 
Too  much  of  Much  already. 

MUCH 
[Looking  up  at  him  impudently.] 

Well,  it  would  take 
Our  big  barn  full  of  fern-seed,  I  misdoubt, 
To  make  thee  walk  invisible,  Little  John, 
My  sweet  Tom  Thumb!     And,  in  this  troublous 

age 
Of  forest-laws,  if  we  night-walking  minions, 
We  gentlemen  of  the  moon,  could  only  hunt 
Invisible,  there's  many  and  many  of  us 
With   thumbs  lopped   off,    eyes   gutted   and   legs 

pruned, 
Slick,    like   poor   pollarded  pear-trees,   would  be 

lying 
Happy  and  whole  this  day  beneath  the  boughs. 

[62] 


SHERWOOD 


LITTLE   JOHN 

Invisible?     Ay,  but  what  would  Jenny  say 
To  such  a  ghostly  midge  as  thou  would' st  be 
Sipping  invisibly  at  her  cherry  lips. 

MUCH 

Why,  there  now,  that's  a  teaser.     E'en  as  it  is 
(Don't  joke  about  it)  my  poor  Jenny  takes 
The  smallness  of  her  Much  sorely* to  heart  I 
And  though  I  often  tell  her  half  a  loaf 
(Ground  in  our  mill)  is  better  than  no  bread, 
She  weeps,  poor  thing,  that  an  impartial  heaven 
Bestows  on  her  so  small  a  crumb  of  bliss 
As  me !     You'd  scarce  believe,  now,  half  the  nos- 
trums, 
Possets  and  strangely  nasty  herbal  juices 
That  girl  has  made  me  gulp,  in  the  vain  hope 
That  I,  the  frog,  should  swell  to  an  ox  like  thee. 
I  tell  her  it's  all  in  vain,  and  she  still  cheats 
Her  fancy  and  swears  I've  grown  well  nigh  three 

feet 
Already.     O   Lord,   she's   desperate.     She'll   ad- 
vance 
Right  inward  to  the  sources  of  creation, 
She'll  take  the  reins  of  the  world  in  hand.     She'll 

stop 
The  sun  like  Joshua,  turn  the  moon  to  blood, 
And  if  I  have  to  swallow  half  the  herbs 

[63] 


SHERWOOD 


In  Sherwood,  I  shall  stalk  a  giant  yet, 
Shoulder  to  shoulder  with  thee,  Little  John,/ 
And  crack  thy  head  at  quarter-staff.     But  don't, 
Don't  joke  about  it.     'Tis  a  serious  matter. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Into  the  cave,  then,  with  thy  feather-bed. 

Old  Much,  thy  father,  waits  thee  there  to  make 

A  table  of  green  turfs  for  Robin  Hood. 

We  shall  have  guests  anon,  O  merry  times, 

Baron  and  knight  and  abbot,  all  that  ride 

Through  Sherwood,  all  shall  come  and  dine  with 

him 
When  they  have  paid  their  toll!     Old  Much  is 

there 
Growling  at  thy  delay. 

MUCH 

[Going  towards  the  cave.] 

My  poor  dear  father. 
Now,  there's  a  sad  thing,  too.     He  is  so  ashamed 
Of  his  descendants.     Why  for  some  nine  years 
He  shut  his  eyes  whenever  he  looked  at  me ; 
And  I  have  seen  him  on  the  village  green 
Pretend  to  a  stranger,  once,  who  badgered  him 
With  curious  questions,  that  I  was  the  son 
Of  poor  old  Gaffer  Bramble,  the  lame  sexton. 
That  self-same  afternoon,  up  comes  old  Bramble 

[64] 


SHERWOOD 


White  hair  a-blaze  and  big  red  waggling  nose 
All  shaking  with  the  palsy;  bangs  our  door 
Clean  off  its  hinges  with  his  crab-tree  crutch, 
And  stands  there  —  framed  —  against  the  sunset 

sky! 
He  stretches  out  one  quivering  fore-finger 
At  father,  like  the  great  Destroying  Angel 
In  the  stained  window:  straight,  the  milk  boiled 

over, 
The  cat  ran,  baby  squalled  and  mother  screeched. 
Old  Bramble  asks  my  father  —  what  —  what  — 

what 
He  meant  —  he  meant  —  he  meant !     You  should 

have  seen 
My     father's     hopeless     face !     Lord,     how     he 

blushed, 
Red    as    a    beet-root!     Lord,     Lord,     how    he 

blushed ! 
'Tis  a  hard  business  when  a  parent  looks 
Askance  upon  his  off-spring. 

[Exit  into  the  cave.~\ 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Skip,  you  chatterer! 
Here  comes  our  master. 

{Enter  Robin  Hood.] 

Master,  where  hast  thou  been? 


[65] 


SHERWOOD 


I  feared  some  harm  had  come  to  thee.     What's 

this? 
This  was  a  cloth-yard  shaft  that  tore  thy  coat! 

ROBIN 

Oh,  ay,  they  barked  my  shoulder,  devil  take  them. 

I  got  it  on  the  borders  of  the  wood. 

St.  Nicholas,  my  lad,  they're  on  the  watch. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

What  did'st  thou  there?  They're  on  the  watch, 
i'  faith! 

A  squirrel  could  not  pass  them.  Why,  my  name- 
sake 

Prince  John  would  sell  his  soul  to  get  thy  head, 

And  both  his  ears  for  Lady  Marian; 

And  whether  his  ears  or  soul  be  worth  the  more, 

I  know  not.     When  the  first  lark  flittered  up 

To  sing,  at  dawn,  I  woke ;  and  thou  wast  gone. 

What  did'st  thou  there? 

ROBIN 
Well,  first  I  went  to  swim 
In  the  deep  pool  below  the  mill. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

I  swam 
Enough  last  night  to  last  me  many  a  day. 
What  then  ? 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

I  could  not  wash  away  the  thought 
Of  all  you  told  me.     If  Prince  John  should  dare ! 
That  helpless  girl !     No,  no,  I  will  not  think  it. 
Why,  Little  John,  I  went  and  tried  to  shoot 
A  grey  goose  wing  thro'  Lady  Marian's  casement. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Oh,  ay,  and  a  pink  nosegay  tied  beneath  it. 
Now,  master,  you'll  forgive  your  Little  John, — 
But  that's  midsummer  madness  and  the  may 
Is  only  half  in  flower  as  yet.     But  why  — 
You  are  wounded  —  why  are  you  so  pale  ? 

ROBIN 

No  —  no  — 
Not  wounded ;  but  Oh,  my  good  faithful  friend, 
She  is  not  there !     I  wished  to  send  her  warning. 
I  could  not  creep  much  closer ;  but  I  swear 
I  think  the  castle  is  in  the  hands  of  John. 
I  saw  some  men  upon  the  battlements, 
Not  hers  —  I  know  —  not  hers ! 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Hist,  who  comes  here? 
[He  seizes  his  bow  and  stands  ready  to  shoot.] 

[67] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Stop,  man,  it  is  the  fool.     Thank  God,  the  fool, 
Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  my  Marian's  dainty  fool. 
How  now,  good  fool,  what  news  ?     What  news  ? 
[Enter  Shadow-of-a-Leaf.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Good  fool! 
Should  I  be  bad,  sir,  if  I  chanced  to  bring 
No  news  at  all?     That  is  the  wise  man's  way. 
Thank  heaven,  IVe  lost  my  wits.     I  am  but  a  leaf 
Dancing  upon  the  wild  winds  of  the  world, 
A  prophet  blown  before  them.     Well,  this  even- 
ing, 
It  is  that  lovely  grey  wind  from  the  West 
That  silvers  all  the  fields  and  all  the  seas, 
And  I'm  the  herald  of  May ! 

ROBIN 

Come,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf, 
I  pray  thee,  do  not  jest. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

I  do  not  jest. 
I  am  vaunt-courier  to  a  gentleman, 
A  sweet  slim  page  in  Lincoln  green  who  comes, 
Wood-knife  on  hip,  and  wild  rose  in  his  face, 
With  golden  news  of  Marian.     Oh,  his  news 
[68] 


SHERWOOD 


Is  one  crammed  honeycomb,  swelling  with  sweet- 
ness 
In  twenty  thousand  cells;  but  delicate! 
So  send  thy  man  aside. 

ROBIN 

Go,  Little  John. 
[Little  John  goes  into  the  cave.] 
Well,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  where  is  he? 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

At  this  moment 
His  hair  is  tangled  in  a  rose  bush :  hark, 
He  swears,  like  any  kitten !     Nay,  he  is  free. 
Come,  master  page,  here  is  that  thief  of  love, 
Give  him  your  message.     I'll  to  Little  John. 
[Exit  into  the  cave.     Enter  Marian,  as  a  page 
in  Lincoln  green,  her  face  muffled  in  a  hood.] 

ROBIN 

Good  even,  master  page,  what  is  thy  news 
Of  Lady  Marian? 

[She  stands  silent.] 

Answer  me  quickly,  come, 
Hide  not  thy  face ! 

[She  still  stands  muffled  and  silent.] 

Come,  boy,  the  fool  is  chartered, 
Not  thou ;  and  I'll  break  off  this  hazel  switch 
[69] 


SHERWOOD 


And  make  thee  dance  if  thou  not  answer  me. 
What?     Silent  still?     Sirrah,  this  hazel  wand 
Shall  lace  thee  till  thou  tingle,  top  to  toe. 
I'll     .     .     . 


MARIAN 
[Unmuffling.] 

ROBIN 


Robin! 


[Catches  her  in  his  arms  with  a  cry.] 
Marian!     Marian! 

MARIAN 

Fie  upon  you, 
Robin,  you  did  not  know  me. 

ROBIN 
[Embracing  her.~\ 

Oh,  you  seemed 
Ten  thousand  miles   away.     This   is   not  moon- 
light, 
And  I  am  not  Endymion.     Could  I  dream 
My    sweet    swift    Dian   would    come    wandering 

through 
These  woods  by  daylight?     Even  that  rose  your 

face 
You  muffled  in  its  own  green  leaves, 

[70] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

But  you, 
Were  hidden  in  jhe  heart  of  Sherwood,  Robin, 
Hidden  behind  a  million  mighty  boughs, 
And  yet  I  found  you. 

ROBIN 

^  Ay,  the  young  moon  stole 

In  pity  down  to  her  poor  shepherd  boy ; 
But  he  could  never  climb  the  fleecy  clouds 
Up  to  her  throne,  never  could  print  one  kiss 
On  her  immortal  lips.     He  lay  asleep 
Among  the  poppies  and  the  crags  of  Latmos, 
And  she  came  down  to  him,  his  queen  stole  down. 

MARIAN 

Oh,  Robin,  first  a  rose  and  then  a  moon, 

A  rose  that  breaks  at  a  breath  and  falls  to  your 

feet, 
The  fickle  moon  —  Oh,  hide  me  from  the  world ; 
For  there  they  say  love  goes  by  the  same  law ! 
Let  me  be  outlawed  then.     I  cannot  change. 
Sweetheart,  sweetheart,  Prince  John  will  hunt  me 

down! 
Prince  John  —  Queen  Elinor  will  hunt  me  down ! 

ROBIN 

Queen    Elinor!     Nay,    but    tell    me    what    this 

means  ? 
How  came  you  here? 

C7i] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

The  Queen  —  she  came  last  night, 
Made  it  an  odious  kind  of  praise  to  me 
That  he,  not  three  months  wedded  to  his  bride, 
Should  —  pah ! 

And  then  she  said  five  hundred  men 
Were  watching  round  the  borders  of  the  wood ; 
But  she  herself  would  take  me  safely  through  them, 
Said  that  I  should  be  safer  here  with  Robin, 
She  had  your  name  so  pat  —  and  I  gave  way. 
[Enter   Queen    Elinor    behind.    She    conceals 
herself  to  listen.'] 

ROBIN 

Marian,  she  might  have  trapped  you  to  Prince 
John. 

MARIAN 

No;  no;  I  think  she  wanted  me  to  guide  her 
Here  to  your  hiding  place.     She  wished  to  see  you 
Herself,  unknown  to  John,  I  know  not  why. 
It  was  my  only  way.     Her  skilful  tongue 
Quite  won  my  father  over,  made  him  think, 
Poor  father,  clinging  to  his  lands  again, 
He  yet  might  save  them.     And  so,  without  ado 
(It  will  be  greatly  to  the  joy  of  Much, 
Your  funny  little  man),  I  bade  my  maid 
Jenny,  go  pack  her  small  belongings  up 

[72] 


SHERWOOD 


This  morning,  and  to  follow  with  Friar  Tuck 
And  Widow  Scarlet.     They'll  be  here  anon. 

ROBIN 
Where  did  you  leave  the  Queen? 

MARIAN 

Robin,  she  tried 
To  kill  me !     We  were  deep  within  the  wood 
And  she  began  to  tell  me  a  wild  tale, 
Saying  that  I  reminded  her  of  days 
When  Robin  was  her  page,  and  how  you  came 
To  Court,  a  breath  of  April  in  her  life, 
And  how  you  worshipped  her,  and  how  she  grew 
To  love  you.     But  she  saw  you  loved  me  best 
(So  would  she  mix  her  gall  and  lies  with  honey) , 
So  she  would  let  you  go.     And  then  she  tried 
To  turn  my  heart  against  you,  bade  me  think 
Of  all  the  perils  of  your  outlawry, 
Then  flamed  with  anger  when  she  found  my  heart 
Steadfast;  and  when  I  told  her  we  drew  nigh 
The  cave,  she  bade  me  wait  and  let  her  come 
First,  here,  to  speak  with  you.     Some  devil's  trick 
Gleamed  in  her  smile,  the  way  some  women  have 
Of  smiling  with  their  lips,  wreathing  the  skin 
In  pleasant  ripples,  laughing  with  their  teeth, 
While  the  cold  eyes  watch,  cruel  as  a  snake's 
That  fascinates  a  bird.     I'd  not  obey  her. 

[73] 


SHERWOOD 


She  whipped  a  dagger  out.     Had  it  not  been 
For  Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  who  dogged  us  all  the  way, 
Poor  faithful  fool,  and  leapt  out  at  her  hand, 
She  would  have  killed  me.     Then  she  darted  away 
Like  a  wild  thing  into  the  woods,  trying  to  find 
Your  hiding  place  most  like. 

ROBIN 

O    Marian,  why, 
Why  did  you  trust  her  ?     Listen,  who  comes  here  ? 
[Enter  Friar  Tuck,  Jenny  and  Widow  Scar- 
let.] 
Ah,  Friar  Tuck ! 

MARIAN 

Good  Jenny! 

ROBIN 

And  Widow  Scarlet! 

FRIAR   TUCK 

0  children,  children,  this  is  thirsty  weather ! 

The    heads    I    have    cracked,    the    ribs    I    have 
thwacked,  the  bones 

1  have   bashed   with    my   good   quarter-staff,    to 

bring 
These  bits  of  womankind  through  Sherwood  For- 
est. 

[74.] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

What,  was  there  scuffling,  friar  ? 
FRIAR  TUCK 

Some  two  or  three 
Pounced  on  us,  ha !  ha !  ha ! 

JENNY 

A  score  at  least, 
Mistress,  most  unchaste  ruffians. 

FRIAR   TUCK 

They've  gone  home, 
Well   chastened  by  the    Church.     This   pastoral 

staff 
Mine  oaken  Pax  Vobiscum,  sent  'em  home 
To  think  about  their  sins,  with  watering  eyes. 
You  never  saw  a  bunch  of  such  blue  faces, 
Bumpy  and  juicy  as  a  bunch  of  grapes 
Bruised  in  a  Bacchanalian  orgy,  dripping 
The  reddest  wine  a  man  could  wish  to  see. 

ROBIN 

I  picture  it  —  those  big  brown  hands  of  thine 
Grape-gathering  at  their  throttles,  ha !  ha !  ha ! 
Come,  Widow  Scarlet,  come,  look  not  so  sad. 

WIDOW    SCARLET 

O  master,  master,  they  have  named  the  day 
For  killing  of  my  boy. 

[75] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

They  have  named  the  day 
For  setting  of  him  free,  then,  my  good  dame. 
Be  not  afraid.     We  shall  be  there,  eh,  Friar? 
Grape-gathering,  eh? 

FRIAR 

Thou'lt  not  be  there  thyself, 
My  son,  the  game's  too  dangerous  now,  methinks. 

ROBIN 

I  shall  be  there  myself.     The  game's  too  good 
To  lose.     We'll  all  be  there.     You're  not  afraid, 
Marian,  to  spend  a  few  short  hours  alone 
Here  in  the  woods  with  Jenny. 

MARIAN 

Not  for  myself, 
Robin. 

ROBIN 
We  shall  want  every  hand  that  day, 
And  you'll  be  safe  enough.     You  know  we  go 
Disguised  as  gaping  yokels,  old  blind  men, 
With  patches  on  their  eyes,  poor  wandering  beg- 
gars, 
Pedlars  with  pins  and  poking-sticks  to  sell; 
And  when  the  time  is  come  —  a  merry  blast 
Rings  out  upon  a  bugle  and  suddenly 

[76] 


SHERWOOD 


The  Sheriff  is  aware  that  Sherwood  Forest 
Has  Lhrust  its  green  boughs  up  beneath  his  feet. 
Off  go  the  cloaks  and  all  is  Lincoln  green, 
Great  thwacking  clubs  and  twanging  bows  of  yew. 
Oh,  we  break  up  like  nature  thro'  the  laws 
Of  that  dark  world;  and  then,  good  Widow  Scar- 
let, 
Back  to  the  cave  we  come  and  your  good  Will 
Winds  his  big  arm  about  you  once  again. 
Go,  Friar,  take  her  in  and  make  her  cosy. 
Jenny,  your  Much  will  grow  three  feet  at  least 
With  joy  to  welcome  you.     He  is  in  the  cave. 
[Friar  Tuck  and  Widow  Scarlet  go  towards 
the  cave.] 

friar  tuck 

Now  for  a  good  bowse  at  a  drinking  can. 
Pve  got  one  cooling  in  the  cave,  unless 
That  rascal,  Little  John,  has  drunk  it  all. 
[Exeunt  into  cave.] 

JENNY 

[To  Marian.] 
Mistress,  I  haven't  spoke  a  word  to  you 
For  nigh  three  hours.     'Tis  most  unkind,  I  think. 

MARIAN 

Go,  little  tyrant,  and  be  kind  to  Much. 

[77] 


SHERWOOD 


JENNY 

Mistress,  it  isn't  Much  I  want.     Don't  think 
Jenny  comes  trapesing  through  these  awful  woods 
For  Much.     I  haven't  spoke  a  word  with  you 
For  nigh  three  hours.     Tis  most  unkind,  I  think. 

MARIAN 

Wait,  Jenny,  then,  I'll  come  and  talk  with  you. 
Robin,  she  is  a  tyrant;  but  she  loves  me. 
And  if  I  do  not  go,  she'll  pout  and  sulk 
Three  days  on  end.     But  she's  a  wondrous  girl. 
She'd   work   until    she    dropped    for    me.     Poor 
Jenny ! 

ROBIN 

That's  a  quaint  tyranny.     Go,  dear  Marian,  go; 

But  not  for  long.     We  have  so  much  to  say. 

Come  quickly  back. 

[Exit  Marian.     Robin  paces  thoughtfully  across 
the  glade.     Queen   Elinor  steals   out   of 
her  hiding  place  and  stands  before  him.] 
You  here! 

ELINOR 

Robin,  can  you 
Believe  that  girl?     Am  I  so  treacherous? 

ROBIN 

It  seems  you  have  heard  whate'er  I  had  to  say. 

[78] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

Surely  you  cannot  quite  forget  those  days 
When  you  were  kind  to  me.     Do  you  remember 
The  sunset  through  that  oriel  ? 

ROBIN 

Ay,  a  god 
Grinning  thro'  a  horse-collar  at  a  pitiful  page, 
Dazed  with  the  first  red  gleam  of  what  he  thought 
Life,  as  the  trouveres  find  it!     I  am  ashamed, 
Remembering  how  your  quick  tears  blinded  me ! 

ELINOR 

Ashamed !     You  —  you  —  that  in  my  bitter  grief 
When  Rosamund  — 

ROBIN 
I  know!      I  thought  your  woes, 
Those  tawdry  relics  of  your  treacheries, 
Wrongs  quite  unparalleled.     I  would  have  fought 
Roland  himself  to  prove  you  spotless  then. 

ELINOR 

Oh,  you  speak  thus  to  me !     Robin,  beware ! 

I  have  come  to  you,  I  have  trampled  on  my  pride, 

Set  all  on  this  one  cast !     If  you  should  now 

Reject  me,  humble  me  to  the  dust  before 

That  girl,  beware !     I  never  forget,  I  warn  you ; 

I  never  forgive. 

[79] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Are  you  so  proud  of  that? 

ELINOR 

Ah,  well,  forgive  me,  Robin.     I'll  save  you  yet 
From  all  these  troubles  of  your  outlawry! 
Trust  me  —  for  I  can  wind  my  poor  Prince  John 
Around  my  little  finger.     Who  knows  —  with  me 
To  help  you  —  there  are  but  my  two  sons'  lives 
That    greatly   hinder   it  —  why,    yourself    might 

reign 
Upon  the  throne  of  England. 

ROBIN 

Are  you  so  wrapped 
In  treacheries,  helplessly  false,  even  to  yourself, 
That  now  you  do  not  know  falsehood  from  truth, 
Darkness  from  light? 

ELINOR 

O  Robin,  I  was  true 
At  least  to  you.     If  I  were  false  to  others, 
At  least  I  — 

ROBIN 
No  —  not  that  —  that  sickening  plea 
Of  truth  in  treachery.     Treachery  cannot  live 
With  truth.     The  soul  wherein  they  are  wedded 

dies 
Of  leprosy. 

[80] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

[Coming  closer  to  him.] 

Have  you  no  pity,  Robin, 

No  kinder  word  than  this  for  the  poor  creature 

That  crept  —  Ah,  feel  my  heart,  feel  how  it  beats ! 

No  pity? 

ROBIN 

Five  years  ago  this  might  have  moved  me  I 

ELINOR 

No  pity? 

ROBIN 

None.     There  is  no  more  to  say. 
My  men  shall  guide  you  safely  through  the  wood. 

ELINOR 

I  never  forgive ! 

[Enter  Marian  from  the  cave;  she  stands  silent 
and  startled.} 

ROBIN 

My  men  shall  guide  you  back. 
[Calls.'] 
Ho,  there,  my  lads! 

[Enter  several  of  the  outlaws.] 

This  lady  needs  a  guide 
Back  thro'  the  wood. 

[81] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

Good-bye,  then,  Robin,  and  good-bye  to  you, 
Sweet  mistress !     You  have  wronged  me !     What 

of  that? 
For  —  when  we  meet  —  Come,  lead  on,  foresters ! 
[Exeunt  the  Queen  and  her  guides. ,] 

MARIAN 
O  Robin,  Robin,  how  the  clouds  begin 
To   gather  —  how   that   woman    seems    to   have 

brought 
A  nightmare  on  these  woods 

ROBIN 

Forget  it  all ! 
She  is  so  tangled  in  those  lies  the  world 
Draws  round  some  men  and  women,  none  can 

help  her. 
Marian,  for  God's  sake,  let  us  quite  forget 
That  nightmare !     Oh,  that  perfect  brow  of  yours, 
Those  perfect  eyes,  pure  as  the  violet  wells 
That  only  mirror  heaven  and  are  not  dimmed 
Except   by    clouds   that   drift   thro'    heaven    and 

catch 
God's  glory  in  the  sunset  and  the  dawn. 

MARIAN 
It  is  enough  for  them  simply  to  speak 
The  love  tKeyTTold  foTyou.     But  —  I  still  fear. 
[82] 


SHERWOOD 


Robin  —  think  you  —  she  might  have  overheard/^      \ 
Your  plan  —  the  rescue  of  Will  Scarlet?  /    *** 


ROBIN 

Why-  t*& 

No  —  No  —  some  time  had  passed,   and  yet  • — 

she  seemed 
To  have  heard  your  charge   against   her!     No, 

she  guessed  it. 
Come  —  let   us   brush    these    cobwebs    from    our 

minds. 
Look  how  the  first  white  star  begins  to  tremble 
Like  a  big  blossom  in  that  sycamore. 
Now  you  shall  hear  our  forest  ritual. 
Ho,  Little  John!     Summon  the  lads  together! 
[The   outlaws   come   out  of   the   cave.     Little 

John  blows  a  bugle  and  others  come  in  from 

the  for  est. ~\ 
Friar,  read  us  the  rules. 

FRIAR   TUCK 

First,  shall  no  man 
Presume  to  call  our  Robin  Hood  or  any 
By  name  of  Earl,  lord,  baron,  knight  or  squire, 
But  simply  by  their  names  as  men  and  brothers: 
Second,  that  Lady  Marian  while  she  shares 
Our  outlaw  life  in  Sherwood  shall  be  called 
Simply  Maid  Marian.     Thirdly,  we  that  follow 
Robin,  shall  never  in  thought  or  word  or  deed 

[83] 


SHERWOOD 


Do  harm  to  widow,  wife  or  maid;  but  hold, 
Each,  for  his  mother's  or  sister's  or  sweetheart's 
sake, 
1  The  glory,  of  womanhood,  a  sacred  thing, 
A  star  twixt  earth  and  heaven.     Fourth,  whom- 
soever 
Ye  meet  in  Sherwood  ye  shall  bring  to  dine 
With  Robin,  saving  carriers,  posts  and  folk 
That  ride  with  food  to  serve  the  market  towns 
Or  any,  indeed,  that  serve  their  fellow  men. 
Fifth,  you  shall  never  do  the  poor  man  wrong, 
Nor  spare  a  priest  or  usurer.     You  shall  take 
The  waste  wealth  of  the  rich  to  help  the  poor, 
The  baron's  gold  to  stock  the  widow's  cupboard, 
The  naked  ye  shall  clothe,  the  hungry  feed, 
And  lastly  shall  defend  with  all  your  power 
All  that  are  trampled  under  by  the  world, 
The  old,  the  sick  and  all  men  in  distress. 

ROBIN 

So,  if  it  be  no  dream,  we  shall  at  last 
Hasten  the  kingdom  of  God's  will  on  earth. 
There  shall  be  no  more  talk  of  rich  and  poor, 
Norman  and  Saxon.     We  shall  be  one  people, 
One  family,  clustering  all  with  happy  hands 
And  faces  round  that  glowing  hearth,  the  sun. 
Now  let  the  bugle  sound  a  golden  challenge 
To  the  great  world.     Greenleaf,   a   forest  call! 
[84] 


SHERWOOD 


[Reynold  Gf  ^nleaf  blows  a  resounding  call.] 
Now  let  the  guards  be  set ;  and  then,  to  sleep ! 
To-morrow  there'll  be  work  enough  for  all. 
The  hut  for  Jenny  and_Maid  Marian! 
ConreTyoii  shall'see  how  what  we  lack  in  halls 
We  find  in  bowers.     Look  how  from  every  branch 
Such  tapestries  as  kings  could  never  buy 
Wave  in  the  starlight.     You'll  be  waked  at  dawn 
By  feathered  choirs  whose  notes  were  taught  in 
heaven. 

MUCH 

Come,  Jenny,  come,  we  must  prepare  the  hut 

For  Mistress  Marian.     Here's  a  bundle  of  ferns ! 

[They  go  into   the  hut.     The  light  is  growing 

dimmer  and  richer.] 

LITTLE   JOHN 

And  here's  a  red  cramoisy  cloak,  a  baron 
[Handing  them  in  at  the  door.] 

Dropt,  as  he  fled  one  night  from  Robin  Hood; 

And  here's  a  green,  and  here's  a  midnight  blue, 

All  soft  as  down.     But  wait,  I'll  get  you  more. 

[Two  of  the  outlaws  appear  at  the  door  with  deer- 
skins, etc.,  Shadow-of-a-Leaf  stands  be- 
hind them  with  a  great  bunch  of  flowers  and 
ferns.] 

FIRST   OUTLAW 

Here's  fawn-skins,  milder  than  a  maiden's  cheek. 
[*5] 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Oh,  you  should  talk  in  rhyme !     The  world  should 

sing 
Just  for  this  once  in  tune,  if  Love  were  king! 

SECOND   OUTLAW 

Here's  deer-skins,  for  a  carpet,  smooth  and  meek. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

*  I   knew   you   would!     Ha!   ha!     Now   look   at 
what  I  bring! 
[He  throws  flowers,  etc.,  within  the  hut,  spray 

by  spray,  speaking  in  a  kind  of  ecstasy, .] 
Here's  lavender  and  love  and  sweet  wild  thyme, 
And  dreams  and  blue-bells  that  the  fairies  chime. 
Here's  meadow-sweet   and  moonlight,   bound   in 

posies, 
With  ragged  robin,  traveller's  joy  and  roses, 
And  here  —  just  three  leaves  from  a  weeping  wil- 
low; 
And  here  —  that's  best  —  deep  poppies  for  your 
pillow. 

MUCH 

And  here's  a  pillow  that  I  made  myself, 

Stuffed   with    dry   rose-leaves    and    grey   pigeon's 

down, 
The  softest  thing  on  earth  except  my  heart! 
[86] 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Going  aside  and  throwing  himself  down  among 
the  ferns  to  watch.~\ 

Just  three  sweet  breaths  and  then  the  song  is 
flown! 

[Much  looks  at  him  for  a  moment  with  a  puz- 
zled face,  then  turns  to  the  hut  again.] 

MUCH 

Jenny,  here,  take  it  —  though  I'm  fond  of  com- 
forts, 
Take  it  and  give  it  to  Maid  Marian. 

JENNY 

Why,  Much,  'tis  bigger  than  thyself. 

MUCH 

Hush,  child. 
I    meant   to   use    it   lengthways.     'Twould    have 

made 
A  feather-bed  complete  for  your  poor  Much, 
Take   it! 

[  The  outlaws  all  go  into  the  cave.] 

MARIAN 
O  Robin,  what  a  fairy  palace ! 
How  cold  and  grey  the  walls  of  castles  seem 
Beside  your  forest's  fragrant  halls  and  bowers. 

[87] 


SHERWOOD 


I  do  not  think  that  I  shall  be  afraid 
To  sleep  this  night,  as  I  have  often  been 
Beneath  our  square  bleak  battlements. 

ROBIN 

And  look, 
Between  the  boughs;  there  is  your  guard,  all  night, 
That  great  white  star,  white  as  an  angel's  wings, 
White  as  the  star  that  shone  on  Bethlehem ! 
Good  night,  sweetheart,  good  night! 


MARIAN 


Good  night ! 


ROBIN 

QnfcJdsi! 

Oh,  clear  bright  eyes,  dear  heavens  of  sweeter 
stars, 

Where  angels  play,  and  your  own  sweeter  soul 

Smiles  like  a  child  into  the  face  of  God, 

Good  night!     Good  night! 

[Marian  goes  into  the  hut.  The  door  is  shut. 
Robin  goes  to  the  mouth  of  the  cave  and 
throws  himself  down  on  a  couch  of  deer- 
skins. The  light  grows  dimly  rich  and 
fairy-likeJ\ 


[88] 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Rising  to  his  knees.'] 

Here  comes  the  little  cloud! 
[A  little  moonlit  cloud  comes  floating  down  be- 
tween the  tree-tops  into  the  glade.     Titania 
is  seen  reposing  upon  it.     She  steps  to  earth. 
The  cloud  melts  away.] 
How  blows  the  wind  from  fairyland,  Titania  ? 

TITANIA 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  the  wicked  queen  has  heard 
Your  master's  plan  for  saving  poor  Will  Scarlet. 
She  knows  Maid  Marian  will  be  left  alone, 
Unguarded  in  these  woods.     The  wicked  Prince 
Will  steal  upon  her  loneliness.     He  plots 
To  carry  her  away. 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

What  can  we  do? 
Can  I  not  break  my  fairy  vows  and  tell? 

TITANIA 

No,  no ;  you  cannot,  even  if  you  would, 
Convey  our  fairy  lore  to  mortal  ears. 
When  have  they  heard  our  honeysuckle  bugles 
Blowing  reveille  to  the  crimson  dawn? 
We  can  but  speak  by  dreams;  and,  if  you  spoke, 

[89] 


SHERWOOD 


They'd  whip  you,  for  your  words  would  all  ring 

false 
Like  sweet  bells  out  of  tune. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

What  can  we  do? 

TITANIA 

Nothing,  except  on  pain  of  death,  to  stay 

The  course  of  Time  and  Tide.     There's  Oberon ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Oberon ! 

TITANIA 

He  can  tell  you  more  than  I. 
[Enter  Oberon.] 

OBERON 

Where's   Orchis?     Where's   our   fairy  trumpeter 
To  call  the  court  together? 

ORCHIS 

Here,  my  liege. 

OBERON 

Bugle  them  hither;  let  thy  red  cheeks  puff 
Until  thy  curled  petallic  trumpet  thrill 
More  loudly  than  a  yellow-banded  bee 
[9o] 


SHERWOOD 


Thro'  all  the  clover  clumps  and  boughs  of  thyme. 
They  are  scattered  far  abroad. 

ORCHIS 

My  liege,  it  shall 
Outroar  the  very  wasp ! 

[Exit.] 

OBERON 

[As  he  speaks,  the  fairies  come  flocking  from  all 
sides  into  the  glade. ,] 

Methinks  they  grow 
Too  fond  of  feasting.     As  I  passed  this  way 
I  saw  the  fairy  halls  of  hollowed  oaks 
All    lighted    with    their    pale    green    glow-worm 

lamps. 
And  under  great  festoons  of  maiden-hair 
Their    brilliant    mushroom    tables    groaned    with 

food. 
Hundreds  of  rose-winged  fairies  banqueted! 
All  Sherwood  glittered  with  their  prismy  goblets 
Brimming  the  thrice  refined  and  luscious  dew 
Not  only  of  our  own  most  purplest  violets, 
But  of  strange  fragrance,  wild  exotic  nectars, 
Drawn  from  the  fairy  blossoms  of  some  star 
Beyond  our  tree-tops !     Ay,  beyond  that  moon 
Which  is  our  natural  limit  —  the  big  lamp 
Heaven  lights  upon  our  boundary. 

[91] 


SHERWOOD 


ORCHIS 

Mighty  King, 
The  Court  is  all  attendant  on  thy  word. 

OBERON 

[With  great  dignity."] 
Elves,  pixies,  nixies,  gnomes  and  leprechauns, 

[He  pauses.] 
We  are  met,  this  moonlight,  for  momentous  coun- 
cils 
Concerning  those  two  drowsy  human  lovers, 
Maid  Marian  and  her  outlawed  Robin  Hood. 
They  are  in  dire  peril ;  yet  we  may  not  break 
Our  vows  of  silence.     Many  a  time 
Has  Robin  Hood  by  kindly  words  and  deeds 
Done  in  his  human  world,  sent  a  new  breath 
Of  life  and  joy  like  Spring  to  fairyland; 
And  at  the  moth-hour  of  this  very  dew-fall, 
He  saved  a  fairy,  whom  he  thought,  poor  soul, 
Only  a  may-fly  in  a  spider's  web, 
He  saved  her  from  the  clutches  of  that  Wizard, 
That  Cruel  Thing,  that  dark  old  Mystery, 
Whom  ye  all  know  and  shrink  from  — 

{Exclamations  of  horror  from  the  fairies.] 

Plucked  her  forth, 
So  gently  that  not  one  bright  rainbow  gleam 
Upon  her  wings  was  clouded,  not  one  flake 
Of  bloom  brushed  off  —  there  lies  the  broken  web, 

[92] 


SHERWOOD 


Go,  look  at  it;  and  here  is  pale  Perilla 
To  tell  you  all  the  tale. 

[The  fairies  cluster  to  look  at  the  web,  etc.'] 

A   FAIRY 

Can  we  not  make  them  free 
Of  fairyland,  like  Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  to  come 
And  go,  at  will,  upon  the  wings  of  dreams  ? 

OBERON 
Not  till  they  lose  their  wits  like  Shadow-of-a-Leaf. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Can  I  not  break  my  fairy  vows  and  tell? 

OBERON 

Only  on  pain  of  what  we  fairies  call 
Death! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Death? 

OBERON 
Never  to  join  our  happy  revels, 
Never  to  pass  the  gates  of  fairyland 
Again,  but  die  like  mortals.     What  that  means 
We  do  not  know  —  who  knows  ? 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

If  I  could  save  them !  — 
I  am  only  Shadow-of-a-Leaf! 

[93] 


SHERWOOD 


OBERON 

There  is  a  king 
Beyond  the  seas.     If  he  came  home  in  time, 
All  might  be  well.     We  fairies  only  catch 
Stray   gleams,   wandering   shadows   of  things  to 
come. 

TITANIA 

Oh,  if  the  king  came  home  from  the  Crusade ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Why  will  he  fight  for  graves  beyond  the  sea  ? 

OBERON 

Our  elfin  couriers  brought  the  news  at  dusk 
That    Lion-heart,    while    wandering    home    thro' 

Europe, 
In  jet-black  armour,  like  an  errant  knight, 
Despite  the  great  red  cross  upon  his  shield, 
Was  captured  by  some  wicked  prince  and  thrust 
Into  a  dungeon.     Only  a  song,  they  say, 
Can  break  those  prison-bars.     There  is  a  minstrel 
That  loves  his  king.     If  he  should  roam  the  world 
Singing  until  from  that  dark  tower  he  hears 
The  king  reply,  the  king  would  be  set  free. 

TITANIA 

Only  a  song,  only  a  minstrel  ? 
[94] 


SHERWOOD 


OBERON 

Ay; 

And  Blondel  is  his  name. 

[A  long,  low  sound  of  wailing  is  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance. The  Fairies  shudder  and  creep  to- 
getherJ\ 

TITANIA 

Hark,  what  is  that? 

OBERON 
The  cry  of  the  poor,  the  cry  of  the  oppressed, 
The  sound  of  women  weeping  for  their  children, 
The  victims  of  the  forest  laws.     The  moan 
Of  that  dark  world  where  mortals  live  and  die 
Sweeps  like  an  icy  wind  thro'  fairyland. 
And  Oh,  it  may  grow  bitterer  yet,  that  sound ! 
'Twas  Merlin's  darkest  prophecy  that  earth 
Should  all  be  wrapped  in  smoke  and  fire,  the  woods 
Hewn  down,  the  flowers  discoloured  and  the  sun 
Begrimed,  until  the  rows  of  lifeless  trees 
Against  the  greasy  sunset  seemed  no  more 
Than  sooty  smudges  of  an  ogre's  thumbs 
Upon  the  sweating  forehead  of  a  slave. 
While,  all  night  long,  fed  with  the  souls  of  men, 
And  bodies,  too,  great  forges  blast  and  burn 
Till  the  great  ogre's  cauldrons  brim  with  gold. 
[  The  wailing  sound  is  heard  again  in  the 
distance  J\ 

[95] 


SHERWOOD 


w 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

To  be  shut  out  for  ever,  only  to  hear 
Those  cries!     I  am  only  Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  the 

fool, 
I  cannot  face  it !     Is  there  no  hope  but  this  ? 
No  hope  for  Robin  and  Maid  Marian? 

OBERON 

If  the  great  King  comes  home  from  the  Crusade 
In  time !     If  not, —  there  is  another  King 
Beyond  the  world,  they  say. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Death,  that  dark  death ! 
To  leave  the  sunlight  and  the  flowers  for  ever ! 
I  cannot  bear  it !     Oh,  I  cannot  tell  them. 
Ill   wait  —  perhaps    the    great    King   will   come 

home, 
If  not  —  Oh,  hark,  a  wandering  minstrel's  voice? 

OBERON 

Who  is  drawing  hither?     Listen,   fairies,  listen! 
[Song  heard  approaching  thro*  the  wood.~\ 

Knight  on  the  narrow  way, 

Where  would'st  thou  ride? 
*  Onward,'  I  heard  him  say, 

4  Love,  to  thy  side !  ■ 

[96] 


SHERWOOD 


4  Nay,'  sang  a  bird  above; 

1  Stay,  for  I  see 
Death  in  the  mask  of  love, 

Waiting  for  thee.' 

[The  song  breaks  off.  Enter  a  Minstrel,  lead- 
ing a  great  white  steed.  He  pauses,  con- 
fronted by  the  fairy  host.  The  moonlight 
dazzles  him.'] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Minstrel,   art  thou,  too,   free  of  fairyland? 
Where  would'st  thou  ride?     What  is  thy  name? 


MINSTREL 

My  name 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Blondel! 

THE    FAIRIES 

Blondel! 


Is  Blondel. 


MINSTREL 

And  I  ride 
Through  all  the  world  to  seek  and  find  my  king! 
[He  passes  through  the  fairy  host  and  goes  into 
[97] 


SHERWOOD 


the  woods  on  the  further  side  of  the  glade, 
continuing  his  song,  which  dies  away  in  the 
distance.] 

[Song.] 

'  Death  ?     What  is  death  ?  '  he  cried. 

1  I  must  ride  on, 
On  to  my  true  love's  side, 

Up  to  her  throne!' 

[Curtain.] 


[98] 


ACT    III 


ACT    III 

Scene  I.  May-day.  An  open  place  (near  Not- 
tingham. A  crowd  of  rustics  and  towns- 
folk assembling  to  see  the  execution  of  Will 
Scarlet. 

FIRST  RUSTIC 
A  sad  May-day !     Where  yonder  gallows  glowers, 
We  should  have  raised  the  may-pole. 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

Ay,  no  songs, 
No  kisses  in  the  ring,  no  country  dances 
To-day;  no  lads  and  lasses  on  the  green, 
Crowning  their  queen  of  may. 
[Enter  Robin  Hood,  disguised  as  an  old  beggar, 
with  a  green  patch  on  one  eye.~] 

ROBIN 

Is  this  the  place, 
Masters,    where    they're    a-goin'    to    hang    Will 
Scarlet  ? 

FIRST   RUSTIC 
Ay,  father,  more's  the  pity. 

[IOI] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Eh!  Don't  ye  think 
There  may  be  scuffling,  masters  ?  There's  a  many 
That  seems  to  like  him  well,  here,  roundabouts. 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

Too    many    halberts    round    him.     There's    no 
chance. 

ROBIN 

I've  heard  the  forest  might  break  out,  the  lads 
In  Lincoln  green,  you  wot  of!     If  they  did? 

FIRST   RUSTIC 

There's  many  here  would  swing  a  cudgel  and  help 
To  trip  the  Sheriff  up.     If  Robin  Hood 
Were  only  here !     But  then  he's  outlawed  now. 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

Ay,  and  there's  big  rewards  out.     It  would  be 
Sure  death  for  him  to  try  a  rescue  now. 
The  biggest  patch  of  Lincoln  Green  we'll  see 
This  day,  is  that  same  patch  on  thy  old  eye, 
Eh,  lads! 

"»  THIRD   RUSTIC 

What's  more,  they  say  Prince  John  is  out 
This  very  day,  scouring  thro'  Sherwood  forest 
In  quest  of  Lady  Marian ! 
[  102] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 
[Sharply.]  ^ 

You  heard  that? 

THIRD   RUSTIC 

Ay,  for  they  say  she's  flown  to  Sherwood  forest. 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

Ah!     Ah?     That's  why  he  went.     I  saw  Prince 

John! 
With  these  same  eyes  I  saw  him  riding  out 
To  Sherwood,  not  an  hour  ago. 

ROBIN 

You  saw  him? 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

Ay,  and  he  only  took  three  men  at  arms. 

FIRST   RUSTIC 

Three  men   at   arms!     Why  then,   he  must  ha' 

known 
That  Robin's  men  would  all  be  busy  here ! 
He's  none  so  bold,  he  would  not  risk  his  skin ! 
I  think  there'll  be  some  scuffling  after  all. 

ROBIN 

Ay,  tell  'em  so  —  go,  spread  it  thro'  the  crowd ! 
[He  mutters  to  himself.] 

[  103] 


SHERWOOD 


He'd  take  some  time,  to  find  her,  but  'fore  God 
We  must  be  quick;  'fore  God  we  must  be  quick! 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

Why,  father,  one  would  never  think  to  see  thee 
Thou  had'st  so  sound  a  heart! 

FIRST   RUSTIC 

Ah,   here  they  come! 
The  Sheriff  and  his  men;  and,  in  the  midst, 
There's  poor  Will  Scarlet  bound. 

THE    CROWD   MURMURS 

Ah,   here  they  come ! 
Look  at  the  halberts  shining!     Can  you  see  him? 

FIRST   RUSTIC 

Ay,  there  he  is.     His  face  is  white;  but,  Lord, 
He  takes  it  bravely.  , 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

He's  a  brave  man,  Will. 

SHERIFF 
Back  with  the  crowd  there,  guards;  delay  no  time! 

SOME   WOMEN   IN   THE    CROWD 

Ah,  ah,  poor  lad! 

[  !Q4] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 
[Eagerly.] 
.What  are  they  doing  now? 

FIRST   RUSTIC 

The  Sheriff's  angered  now! 


I  cannot  see! 


SECOND  RUSTIC 
Ay,  for  they  say  a  messenger  has  come 
From  that  same  godless  hangman  whose  lean  neck 
I'd  like  to  twist,  saying  he  is  delayed. 
'Tis  the  first  godly  deed  he  has  ever  done. 

THIRD   RUSTIC 
The  Sheriff  says  he  will  not  be  delayed. 
But  who  will  take  the  hangman's  office  ? 

ROBIN 

Masters, 
I  have  a  thought;  make  way;  let  me  bespeak 
The   Sheriff! 

RUSTICS 

How  now,  father,  what's  to  do? 

ROBIN 
Make   way,    I   tell   you.     Here's   the   man   they 
want! 

[105] 


SHERWOOD 


SHERIFF 

What's  this? 

ROBIN 

Good  master  Sheriff,  I've  a  grudge 
Against  Will  Scarlet.     Let  me  have  the  task 
Of  sending  him  to  heaven ! 

CROWD 

Ah-h-h,  the  old  devil! 

SHERIFF 

Come  on,  then,  and  be  brief! 

ROBIN 

Fm  not  a  hangman; 
But  I  can  cleave  your  thinnest  hazel  wand 
At  sixty  yards. 

SHERIFF 

Shoot,  then,  and  make  an  end. 
Make  way  there,  clear  the  way! 
[An  opening  is  made  in  the  crowd.    Robin  stands 

in  the  gap,  Will  Scarlet  is  not  seen  by  the 

audience.] 

CROWD 

Ah-h-h,  the  old  devil ! 
[106] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

I'll  shoot  him  one  on  either  side,  just  graze  him, 

To  show  you  how  I  love  him ;  then  the  third 

Slick  in  his  heart. 

[He  shoots.  A  murmur  goes  up  from  the  crowd. 
The  crowd  hides  Will  Scarlet  during  the 
shooting.  But  Robin  remains  in  full  view, 
in  the  opening.] 

sheriff 

[Angrily.] 

Take  care!     You've  cut  the  cord 
That  bound  him  on  that  side ! 

robin 

Then  here's  the  second ! 
I  will  be  careful! 

[He  takes  a  steady  aim.] 

A  RUSTIC  TO  HIS  NEIGHBOURS 

'I  faith,  lads,  he  can  shoot! 

What  do  you  think  —  that  green  patch  on  his  eye 

Smacks  of  the  merry  men!     He's  tricking  them! 

[Robin  shoots.     A  louder  murmur  goes  up  from 

the  crowd.] 

SHERIFF 

You  have  cut  the  rope  again! 
[  107] 


SHERWOOD 


A    CRY 

He  has  cut  him  free! 

ROBIN 

All  right !     All  right !     It's  just  to  tease  the  dog ! 

Here's  for  the  third  now ! 

[He  aims  and  shoots  quickly!     There  is  a  loud 

cry  of  a  wounded  man,  then  a  shout  from  the 

crowd.  \ 

THE    CROWD 

Ah-h-h,  he  has  missed;  he  has  killed 
One  of  the  guards! 

FIRST   RUSTIC 

What  has  he  done? 

SECOND   RUSTIC 

He  has  killed 
One  of  the  Sheriff's  men! 

SHERIFF 

There's  treachery  here! 
I'll  cleave  the  first  man's  heart  that  moves! 

ROBIN 

Will  Scarlet, 
Pick  up  that  dead  man's  halbert! 
[108] 


SHERWOOD 


SHERIFF 


Treachery !     Help ! 
Down  with  the  villain ! 

ROBIN 

[Throws  off  his  beggar's  crouch  and  hurls  the 
Sheriff  and  several  of  his  men  hack  amongst 
the  crowd.     His  cloak  drops  off.] 

Sherwood!     A  merry  Sherwood! 

CROWD 

Ah !  ha !     The  Lincoln  Green !     A  Robin  Hood ! 

[A  bugle  rings  out  and  immediately  some  of  the 
yokels  throw  off  their  disguise  and  the  Lin- 
coln green  appears  as  by  magic  amongst  the 
crowd.  The  guards  are  rushed  and  hustled 
by  them.  Robin  and  several  of  his  men 
make  a  ring  round  Will  Scarlet.] 

sheriff 

It  is  the  outlawed  Earl  of  Huntingdon: 

There  is  a  great  reward  upon  his  head. 

Down  with  him! 

[The  Sheriff's  men  make  a  rush  at  the  little 
band.  A  Knight  in  jet  black  armour,  with 
a  red-cross  shield,  suddenly  appears  and 
forces  his  way  through  the  mob,  sword  in 
hand.] 

[  109] 


SHERWOOD 


KNIGHT 

What,  so  many  against  so  few! 
Back,  you  wild  wolves.     Now,   foresters,   follow 

me, 
For  our  St.  George  and  merry  England,  charge, 
Charge  them,  my  lads! 
[The  Foresters  make  a  rush  with  him  and  the 

Sheriff  and  his  men  take  to  flight.] 

ROBIN 

Now  back  to  Sherwood,  swiftly! 
A  horse,  or  I  shall  come  too  late ;  a  horse ! 
[He  sees  the  knight  in  armour  standing  by  his 

horse. ,] 
Your  pardon,  sir ;  our  debt  to  you  is  great, 
Too  great  almost  for  thanks;  but  if  you  be 
Bound  by  the  vows  of  chivalry,  I  pray  you 
Lend  me  your  charger;  and  my  men  will  bring 

you 
To  my  poor  home  in  Sherwood.     There  you'll 

find 
A  most  abundant  gratitude. 

KNIGHT 

Your  name? 

ROBIN 

Was  Huntingdon;  but  now  is  Robin  Hood, 
[no] 


SHERWOOD 


KNIGHT 
If  I  refuse? 

ROBIN 

Then,  sir,  I  must  perforce 
Take  it.     I  am  an  outlaw,  but  the  law 
Of  manhood  still  constrains  me  — 'tis  a  matter 
Of  life  and  death  —  a  helpless  maiden's  honour 
Depends  on  it! 

KNIGHT 

Take  it  and  God  be  with  you ! 
I'll  follow  you  to  Sherwood  with  your  men. 
[Robin  seizes  the  horse  and  exit.     He  is  heard 
galloping  away.~\ 

[Curtain.'] 


Scene  II.     Sherwood  Forest.     Outside  the  cave. 
Jenny,  Marian  and  Widow  Scarlet. 

MARIAN  ~      » 

This  dreadful  waiting!     How  I  wish  that  Robin  \ 
Had  listened  to  the  rest  and  stayed  with  me. 
How  still  the  woods  are  !     Jenny,  do  yoiT  think 
There  will  be  fighting?     Oh,  I  am  selfish,  mother;. 
You  need  not  be  afraid.     Robin  will  bring 
Will  Scarlet  safely_bac^tO-Sherwood.     Why, 
Perhaps  they  are  all  returning  even  now! 

cm] 


SHERWOOD 


Cheer  up  1     How  long  d'you  think  they've  been 

away, 
Jenny,  six  hours  or  more?     The  sun  is  high, 
And  all  the  dew  is  gone. 

JENNY 

Nay,  scarce  three  hours. 
Now  don't  you  keep  a-fretting.     They'll  be  back, 
Quite  soon  enough.     I've  scarcely  spoke  with  you, 
This  last  three  days  and  more;  and  even  now 
It  seems  I  cannot  get  you  to  myself, 
Two's  quite  enough. 

[To  Widow  Scarlet.] 

Come,  widow,  come  with  me. 
I'll  give  you  my  own  corner  in  the  hut 
And  make  you  cosy.     If  you  take  a  nap 
Will  Scarlet  will  be  here  betimes  you  wake. 

[Takes  her  to  the  hut  and  shuts  her  in.~\ 
There,  drat  her,  for  a  mumping  mumble-crust ! 

MARIAN 

Come,  Jenny,  that's  too  bad;  the  poor  old  dame 
Is  lonely. 

JENNY 
She's  not  lonely  when  she  sleeps, 
And  if  I  never  get  you  to  myself 
Where  was  the  good  of  trapesing  after  you 
And  living  here  in  Sherwood  like  wild  rabbits? 

[H2] 


SHERWOOD 


You  ha'nt  so  much  as  let  me  comb  your  hair 
This  last  three  days  and  more. 

MARIAN 

Well,  comb  it,  Jenny, 
Now,  if  you  like,  and  comb  it  all  day  long; 
But  don't  get  crabbed,  and  don't  speak  so  crossly ! 
[Jenny   begins   loosening   Marian's    hair   and 
combing  it.~\ 

jenny 

Why,  Mistress,  it  grows  longer  every  day. 
It's  far  below  your  knees,  and  how  it  shines  I 
And  wavy,  just  like  Much  the  Miller's  brook, 
Where  it  comes  tumbling  out  into  the  sun, 
Like  gold,  red  gold. 

MARIAN 

Ah,  that's  provoking,  Jenny, 
For  you  forgot  to  bring  me  my  steel  glass, 
And,  if  you  chatter  thus,  I  shall  soon  want  it. 

JENNY 

I've  found  a  very  good  one  at  a  pinch. 
There's  a  smooth  silver  pool,  down  in  the  stream, 
Where  you  can  see  your  face  most  beautiful. 


["3] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

So  that's  how  Jenny  spends  her  lonely  hours, 
A  sad  female  Narcissus,  while  poor  Much 
Dwines  to  an  Echo ! 

JENNY 

I  don't  like  those  gods. 
I  never  cared  for  them.     But,  as  for  Much, 
Mistress,  that  poor  boy  has  the  nicest  mind 
You  ever  dreamed.     He  speaks  so  beautiful! 
It  might  be  just  an  Echo  from  blue  hills 
Far,  far  away !     You  see  he's  quite  a  scholar : 
Much,  more  'an  most  (That's  what  he  calls  the 

three 
Greasy  caparisons  —  much,  more  'an  most)  ! 
You  see  they  thought  that  being  so  very  small 
They  could  not  make  him  grow  to  be  a  man, 
They'd  make  a  scholar  of  him  instead.     The  Friar 
Taught  him  his  letters.     He  can  write  his  name, 
And  mine,  and  yours,  just  like  a  missal  book, 
In  lovely  colours ;  and  he  always  draws 
The  first  big  letter  of  Jenny  like  a  tree 
With  naked  Cupids  hiding  in  the  branches, 
The  sweetest  little  boys  you  ever  saw ! 
And,  just  to  show  he  has  the  nicest  mind, 
He  always  draws  the  leaves  and  boughs  across, 
So  that  you  only  see  their  heads  and  legs  — 
Mistress,  I  don't  believe  you  hear  one  word 

[114] 


SHERWOOD 


I  ever  speak  to  you !     Your  eyes  are  always 
That  far  and  far  away. 

MARIAN 

I'm  listening,  Jenny! 

JENNY  ^~, 

Well,  when  he  draws  the  first  big  M  of  yours, 
He  makes  it  like  a  bridge  from  earth  to  heaven, 
With  white-winged  angels  passing  up  and  down ; 
And,  underneath  the  bridge,  in  a  black  stream, 
He  puts  the  drowning  face  of  the  bad  Prince 
Holding  his  wicked  hands  out,  while  a  devil 
Stands  on  the  bank  and  with  a  pointed  stake 
Keeps  him  from  landing  — 

Ah,  what's  that?     What's  that? 

MARIAN 

0  Jenny,  how  you  startled  me ! 

JENNY 

I  thought 

1  saw  that  same  face  peering  thro'  the  ferns 
Yonder  —  there  —  see,  they  are  shaking  still. 

[She  screams.] 

Ah !     Ah ! 
[Prince  John  and  another  man  appear  advancing 
across  the  glade.] 

[us] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

So  here's  my  dainty  tigress  in  her  den, 
And  —  Warman  —  there's  a  pretty  scrap  for  you 
Beside  her.     Now,  sweet  mistress,  will  you  deign 
To  come  with  me,  to  change  these  cheerless  woods 
For  something  queenlier?     If  I  be  not  mistaken, 
You  have  had  time  to  tire  of  that  dark  cave. 
Was  I  not  right,  now  ?     Surely  you  can  see 
Those  tresses  were  not  meant  to  waste  their  gold 
Upon  this  desert.     Nay,  but  Marian,  hear  me. 
I  do  not  jest. 

[At  a  sign  from  Marian,  Jenny  goes  quickly  in- 
side the  cave.'] 
That's  well !     Dismiss  your  maid ! 
Warman,  remove  a  little. 

[His  man  retires.] 

I  see  you  think 
A  little  better  of  me !     Out  in  the  wood 
There  waits  a  palfrey  for  you,  and  the  stirrup 
Longs,  as  I  long,  to  clasp  your  dainty  foot. 
I  am  very  sure  by  this  you  must  be  tired 
Of  outlawry,  a  lovely  maid  like  you. 
Nor  do  I  think  much  of  the  love  that  drags 
A  maid  like  you  to  share  such  outlawry. 
Oh,  you  should  float  in  silk  thro'  palaces ! 
You  know  not  half  the  wonders  that  await 
Your  coming. 

[He  draws  nearer.] 
[116] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN  \ 

Wait  —  let  me  think  I      I 

JOHN 

Ay,  think  of  gardens, 
Not  wild  like  this,  but  rich  as  Paradise, 
With  bowers  of  Eden  bloom  for  whispering  lovers, 
And  sounds  of  sweet  stringed  music  wafted  through 

them 
And  pulse  of  dancing  feet  in  kingly  halls, 
Lit  with  a  hundred  lamps  when  twilight  comes. 
We  two  shall  listen.     Then  I'll  take  your  hand, 
Lead  you  thro*  splendours  Egypt  never  knew 
When  Cleopatra  kissed  Mark  Antony ! 
[He  draws  nearer.] 

MARIAN 

Wait  —  I  must  think,  must  think,   j 

JOHN 

Give  me  your  hand  I 
Why  do  you  shrink  from  me?  If  you  could  know 
The  fire  that  burns  me  night  and  day,  you  would 

not 
Refuse  to  let  me  snatch  one  cooling  kiss 
From  that  white  hand  of  yours. 

MARIAN  . 

If  you  be  prince,  \ 
You  will  respect  my  loneliness  and  go, 

[117] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

How  can  I  leave  you,  when  by  day  and  night 
I  see  that  face  of  yours,  and  in  my  dreams 
Possess  those  lips.     Oh,  I  will  not  pretend 
I  do  not  love  you,  do  not  long  for  you, 
Desire  and  hunger  for  your  kiss,  your  touch ! 
I'll  not  pretend  to  be  a  saint,  you  see ! 
I  hunger  and  thirst  for  you,  only  to  touch 
Those  beautiful  gold  ripples,  only  to  hold 
Your  body's  trembling  beauty  in  these  arms, 
Once.     Ah,  you'd  feel  my  love,  you'd  answer  it! 

MARIAN 

You  arc  mad ! 

JOHN 
Ay,  mad  for  you,  to  quench  this  fever, 
To  bury  my  burning  face  in  your  deep  hair, 
Mad  for  the  clasp,  the  kiss !     Body  and  soul 
I  am  broken  up  with  love  for  you.     Your  eyes 
Flash  like  the  eyes  of  a  tigress,  and  I  love  them 
The  better  for  it.     Ah,  let  me  hold  you,  sweet, 
Give  me  your  hand !     Ah,  do  not  shrink  from  me ! 
[Jenny  comes  out  of  the  cave,  hands  Marian  a 
bow.     She  leaps  back  and  aims  it  at  John.] 

MARIAN 
Back,  you  wild  beast,  or  by  the  heaven  above  us, 
I'll  kill  you  !     Now,  don't  doubt  me.     I  can  shoot 
[118] 


SHERWOOD 


Truly  as  any  forester.     I  swear 

Prince  or  no  prince,  king  or  no  king,  I'll  kill  you 

If  you  should  stir  one  step  from  where  you  stand. 

JOHN 

Come,  come,  sweet  Marian,  put  that  weapon  down. 
I  was  beside  myself,  was  carried  away. 
I  cannot  help  my  love  for  — 

MARIAN 

Fll  not  hear 

AnnthprsirWeni|)fr  WpH  i  throw  down  your  arms, 

ThatTdaggerat  your  side. 

JOHN 

Oh,  that's  too  foolish, 
Marian,  I  swear  — 

MARIAN 

You  see  that  rusty  stain 
Upon. the  silver  birch  down  yonder?     Watch. 
[She  shoots.      Then  swiftly  aims  at  him  again.] 
Now,  throw  your  weapon  down. 
[He  pulls  out  the  dagger  and  throws  it  down,  with 
a  shrug  of  his  shoulders.     One  of  his  men 
comes  stealing  up  behind  Marian.] 

JENNY 

Ah,  Mistress  Marian, 

[119] 


SHERWOOD 


[ 


There's  one  behind  you !     Look ! 
[The  man  springs  forward  and  seizes  Marian's 
arms.] 

JOHN 
[Coming  forward  and  taking  hold  of  her  also.] 

So,  my  sweet  tigress, 
You're  trapped  then,  are  you?     Well,  we'll  waste 

no  time ! 
We'll  talk  this  over  when  we  reach  the  castle. 
Keep  off  the  maid,  there,  Warman ;  I  can  manage 
This  turbulent  beauty.     Ah,  by  God,  you  shall 
Come!     Ah?     God's  blood,  what's  this? 
[Marian  has  succeeded  in  drawing  her  dagger 
and  slightly  wounding  him.     She  wrests  her- 
self free.] 

MARIAN 

Keep  back,  I  warn  you! 

JOHN 
[Advancing  slowly.] 
Strike,  now  strike  if  you  will.     You  will  not  like 
To  see  the  red  blood  spurting  up  your  hand. 
That's  not  maid's  work.     Come,  strike ! 
[Robin  Hood  appears  at  the  edge  of  the  glade 
behind  him.] 

You  see,  you  cannot ! 
Your  heart  is  tenderer  than  you  think. 

[  I20  ] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 
[Quietly. ~\ 


Prince  John ! 


JOHN 

[ Turns  round  and  confronts  Robin.] 

Out  with  your  blade,  Warman ;  call  up  the  rest ! 

We  can  strike  freely  now,  without  a  fear 

Of  marring  the  sweet  beauty  of  the  spoil. 

We  four  can  surely  make  an  end  of  him.        y 

Have  at  him,  lads,  and  swiftly,  or  the  thieves 

Will  all  be  down  on  us. 

[Robin  draws  his  sword  and  sets  his  back  to  an 

oak.     The  other  two  followers  of  Prince 

John  come  out  of  the  wood.} 

robin 

Come  on,  all  four ! 
This  oak  will  shift  its  roots  before  I  budge 
One  inch  from  four  such  howling  wolves.     Come 

on; 
You  must  be  tired  of  fighting  women-folk. 
Come  on !     By  God,  sir,  you  must  guard  your  head 
Better  than  that, 

\He  disarms  Warman.] 

Or  you're  just  food  for  worms 
Already;  come,  you  dogs! 

[121] 


SHERWOOD 


PRINCE   JOHN 

Work  round,  you  three, 
Behind  him !     Drive  him  out  from  that  damned 
oak! 

ROBIN 

Oh,  that's  a  princely  speech !     Have  at  you,  sir ! 

[He  strikes  Prince  John's  sword  out  of  his  hand 
and  turns  suddenly  to  confront  the  others. 
John  picks  up  a  dagger  and  makes  as  if  to 
stab  Robin  in  the  back.  At  the  same  instant, 
bugles  are  heard  in  the  distance.  The  red- 
cross  knight  flashes  between  the  trees  and 
seizing  John's  arm  in  his  gauntleted  hand, 
disarms  him,  then  turns  to  help  ROBIN.] 

KNIGHT 

What,  four  on  one !  Down  with  your  blades,  you 
curs, 

Or,  by  Mahound! — 

[  The  three  men  take  to  flight.  John  stands  star- 
ing at  the  newcomer.  The  Foresters  ap- 
pear, surrounding  the  glade. ,] 

JOHN 

[Muttering.'] 
What?     Thou?     Thou?     Or  his  ghost? 
No  —  no  —  it  cannot  be. 

[  122] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Let  them  yelp  home, 
The  pitiful  jackals.     They  have  left  behind 
The  prime  offender.     Ha,  there,  my  merry  lads, 
All's  well ;  but  take  this  villain  into  the  cave 
And  guard  him  there. 
[The  foresters  lead  Prince  John  into  the  cave.] 

JOHN 

[To  the  Foresters.] 

Answer  me  one  thing:  who 
Is  yonder  red-cross  knight  ? 

A    FORESTER 

No  friend  of  thine, 
Whoe'er  he  be ! 

KNIGHT 

[To  Robin.] 
I  need  not  ask  his  name. 
I  grieve  to  know  it ! 

robin 
Sir,  I  am  much  beholden 
To  your  good  chivalry.     What  thanks  is  mine 
To  give,  is  all  your  own. 

KNIGHT 

Then  I  ask  this! 
Give  me  that  prisoner !     I  think  his  life  is  mine, 
[  123] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

You  saved  my  own,  and  more,  you  saved  much 

more 
Than  my  poor  life  is  worth.     But,  sir,  think  well  I 
This  man  is  dangerous,  not  to  me  alone, 
But  to  the  King  of  England;  for  he'll  yet 
Usurp  the  throne !     Think  well ! 

KNIGHT 

I  ask  no  more. 
I  have  more  reasons  than  you  know. 

ROBIN 

So  be  it. 
Ho !     Bring  the  prisoner  back ! 
[The  Foresters  bring  Prince  John  back.     He 
stares  at  the  knight  as  if  in  fear.] 

Sir,  you  shall  judge  him. 
This  prisoner  is  your  own. 

knight 

Then  —  let  him  go ! 

foresters 
What!     Set  him  free? 

robin 

Obey! 

[They  release  Prince  John.] 

[124] 


SHERWOOD 


KNIGHT 

Out  of  my  sight ; 
Go! 

PRINCE   JOHN 

What  man  is  this  ? 

KNIGHT 

Quickly,  get  thee  gone ! 
[Prince  John  goes  out,  shaken  and  white.'] 

ROBIN 
We'll  think  no  more  of  him !     It  is  our  rule 
That  whomsoever  we  meet  in  merry  greenwood 
Should  dine  with  us.     Will  you  not  be  our  guest? 

KNIGHT 

That's  a  most  happy  thought  1     I  have  not  heard 
A  merrier  word  than  dinner  all  this  day. 
I  am  well-nigh  starved. 

ROBIN 

Will  you  not  raise  your  visor 
And  let  us  know  to  whose  good  knightly  hand 
We  are  so  beholden? 

KNIGHT 

Sir,  you  will  pardon  me, 
If,  for  a  little,  I  remain  unknown. 
But,  tell  me,  are  you  not  that  Robin  Hood 
Who  breaks  the  forest  laws? 
[125] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

That  is  my  name. 
We  hold  this  earth  as  naturally  our  own 
As  the  glad  common  air  we  breathe.     We  think 
No  man,  no  king,  can  so  usurp  the  world 
As  not  to  give  us  room  to  live  free  lives, 
But,  if  you  shrink  from  eating  the  King's  deer  — 

KNIGHT 

Shrink?     Ha !  ha  !  ha !     I  count  it  as  my  own ! 

[  The  Foresters  appear f  preparing  the  dinner  on 
a  table  of  green  turfs,  beneath  a  spreading 
oak.  Marian  and  Jenny  appear  at  the 
door  of  the  hut.  Jenny  goes  across  to  help 
at  the  preparations  for  dinner. ,] 

ROBIN 

Ah,  there's  my  Lady  Marian  !     Will  you  not  come 
And  speak  with  her  ?         • 

[He  and  the  Knight  go  and  talk  to  Marian  in 
the  background.] 

LITTLE   JOHN 

{At  the  table.] 

The  trenchers  all  are  set ; 
Manchets  of  wheat,  cream,  curds  and  honey-cakes, 
Venison  pasties,  roasted  pigeons !     Much, 
Run  to  the  cave ;  we'll  broach  our  rarest  wine 

[126] 


SHERWOOD 


To-day.     Old  Much  is  waiting  for  thee  there 
To  help  him.     He  is  growling  roundly,  too, 
At  thy  delay. 

MUCH 
[Going  towards  the  cave.] 
Ah  me,  my  poor,  dear  father ! 

JENNY 

I've  dressed  the  salt  and  strawed  the  dining  hall 
With  flowers. 

[Enter  Friar  Tuck  with  several  more  Foresters 
and  Will  Scarlet.] 

robin 
Ah,  good  Will  Scarlet,  here  at  last ! 

FRIAR   TUCK 

We  should  haJ  been  here  sooner;  but  these  others 
Borrowed  a  farmer's  market  cart  and  galloped 
Ahead  of  us ! 

ROBIN 

Thy  mother  is  in  the  hut, 
Sheer  broken  down  with  hope  and  fearfulness, 
Waiting  and  trembling  for  thee,  Will.     Go  in,  ! 
Put  thy  big  arm  around  her. 
[Will  Scarlet  goes  into  the  hut  with  a  cry] 
I  127] 


SHERWOOD 


SCARLET 

Mother ! 

FRIAR   TUCK 

You  see, 
My  sons,  you  couldn't  expect  the  lad  to  run ! 
There  is  a  certain  looseness  in  the  limbs, 
A  quaking  of  the  flesh  that  overcomes 
The  bravest  who  has  felt  a  hangman's  rope 
Cuddling  his  neck. 

ROBIN 

You  judge  him  by  the  rope 
That  cuddles  your  slim  waist !     Oh,  you  sweet  arm- 
ful, 
Sit  down  and  pant !     I  warrant  you  were  glad 
To  bear  him  company. 

FRIAR  TUCK 

I'll  not  deny  it ! 
I  am  a  man  of  solids.     Like  the  Church, 
I  am  founded  on  a  rock. 

[He  sits  down.] 

ROBIN 

Solids,  i'  faith! 
Sir,  it  is  true  he  is  partly  based  on  beef; 
He  grapples  with  it  squarely;  but  fluids,  too, 
Have  played  their  part  in  that  cathedral  choir 
[128] 


SHERWOOD 


He  calls  his  throat.     One  godless  virtue,  sir, 
They  seem  to  have  given  him.     Never  a  nightin- 
gale 
Gurgles  jug!  jug!  in  mellower  tones  than  he 
When  jugs  are  flowing.     Never  a  thrush  can  pipe 
Sweet,  sweet,  so  rarely  as,  when  a  pipe  of  wine 
Summers  his  throttle,  we'll  make  him  sing  to  us 
One  of  his  heathen  ditties  —  The  Malmsey  Butt, 
Or  Down  the  Merry  Red  Lane! 

FRIAR  TUCK 

Oh,  ay,  you  laugh, 
But,  though  I  cannot  run,  when  I  am  rested 
I'll  challenge  you,  Robin,  to  a  game  of  buffets, 
One  fair,  square,  stand-up,  stand-still,  knock-down 

blow 
Apiece;  you'll  need  no  more.     If  you  not  kiss 
The  turf,  at  my  first  clout,  I  will  forego 
Malmsey  for  ever! 

ROBIN 

Friar,  I  recant; 
You're  champion  there.     Fists  of  a  common  size 
I  will  encounter;  but  not  whirling  hams 
Like  thine! 

FRIAR   TUCK 

I  knew  it! 

[129] 


SHERWOOD 


JENNY 
[Approaching.] 

Please  you,  sirs,  all  is  ready  1 

FRIAR   TUCK 

Ah,  Jenny,  Jenny,  Jenny,  that's  good  news ! 

[Will  Scarlet  comes  out  of  the  hut  with  his  arm 
round  his  mother.  They  all  sit  down  at  the 
table  of  turfs.  Enter  Shadow-of-a-Leaf 
timidly.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Is  there  a  place  for  me? 

A    FORESTER 

Ay,  come  along! 

FRIAR   TUCK 
Now,  Robin,  don't  forget  the  grace,  my  son. 

ROBIN 
[Standing  up.] 
It  is  our  custom,  sir,  since  our  repast 
Is  borrowed  from  the  King,  to  drain  one  cup 
To  him,  and  his  return  from  the  Crusade, 
Before  we  dine.     That  same  wine-bibbing  friar 
Calls  it  our  '  grace  ' ;  and  constitutes  himself 
Remembrancer  —  without  a  cause,  for  never 
Have  we  forgotten,  never  while  bugles  ring 
[  J3o] 


SHERWOOD 


Thro'    Sherwood,    shall    forget  —  Outlaws,    the 
King! 

[All  stand  up  except  the  knight. ,] 

CRIES 

The  King  and  his  return  from  the  Crusade  I 
[They  drink  and  resume  their  seats.] 

ROBIN 

You  did  not  drink  the  health,  sir  Knight.     I  hope 
You  hold  with  Lion-Heart. 


KNIGHT 

Yes;  I  hold  with  him 
You  were  too  quick  for  me.     I  had  not  drawn 
These  gauntlets  off. 

But  tell  me,  Lady  Marian, 
When  is  your  bridal  day  with  Robin  Hood? 


MARIAN 

ed 
From  the  Crusade. 


We  shall  be  wedded  when  the  King  comes  home   1 


KNIGHT 

Ah,  when  the  King  comes  home ! 
That's  music  —  all  the  birds  of  April  sing 
In  those  four  words   for  me  —  the   King  comes 
home. 

[131] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

I  am  glad  you  love  him,  sir. 

ROBIN 

But  you're  not  eating ! 
Your  helmet's  locked  and  barred!     Will  you  not 

raise 
Your  visor? 

KNIGHT 

[Laughs.] 
Ha !  ha !  ha !     You  see  I  am  trapped ! 
I  did  not  wish  to  raise  it !     Hunger  and  thirst 
Break  down  all  masks  and  all  disguises,  Robin. 
[He  rises  and  removes  his  helmet,  revealing  the 
face  of  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion.] 

robin 
The  King! 

[They  all  leap  to  their  feet.] 

outlaws 
The  King!     The  King! 

ROBIN 

But  oh,  my  liege, 
I  should  have  known,  when  we  were  hard  beset 
Around  Will  Scarlet  by  their  swarming  bands, 
And  when  you  rode  out  of  the  Eastern  sky 
[  132] 


SHERWOOD 


And  hurled  our  f oemen  down,  I  should  have  known 
It  was  the  King  come  home  from  the  Crusade ! 
And  when  I  was  beset  here  in  the  wood 
By  treacherous  hands  again,  I  should  have  known 
Whose    armour    suddenly    burned    between    the 

leaves ! 
I  should  have  known,  either  it  was  St.  George 
Or  else  the  King  come  home  from  the  Crusade ! 

RICHARD 

Indeed  there  is  one  thing  that  might  have  told  you, 
Robin  —  a  lover's  instinct,  since  it  seems 
So  much  for  you  and  Marian  depends 
On  my  return. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Sire,  you  will  pardon  me, 
For  I  am  only  a  fool,  and  yet  methinks 
You  know  not  half  the  meaning  of  those  words  — 
The  King,  the  King  comes  home  from  the  Cru- 
sade! 
Thrust  up  your  swords,  heft  uppermost,  my  lads, 
And  shout  —  the  King  comes  home  from  the  Cru- 
sade. 

[He  leaps  on  a  seat,  and  thrusts  up  the  King's 
sword,  heft  uppermost,  as  if  it  were  a  cross.] 


I  133  ] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Pardon  him,  sire,  poor  Shadow-of-a-Leaf  has  lost 
His  wits ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 
That's  what  Titania  said  you'd  say, 
Poor  sweet  bells  out  of  tune !     But  oh,  don't  leave, 
Don't  leave  the  forest !     There's  darker  things  to 

come! 
Don't  leave  the  forest  1     I  have  wits  enough  at 

least 
To  wrap  my  legs  around  my  neck  for  warmth 
On  winter  nights. 

RICHARD 
Well,  you've  no  need  to  pass 
The  winter  in  these  woods  — 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Oh,  not  that  winter! 

ROBIN 
Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  be  silent ! 
[Shadow-of-a-Leaf  goes  aside  and  throws  him- 
self down  sobbing  among  the  ferns.] 

RICHARD 

When  even  your  cave 
Methinks  can  scarce  be  cheery.     Huntingdon, 
Your  earldom  we  restore  to  you  this  day ! 

[134] 


SHERWOOD 


You  and  my  Lady  Marian  shall  return 
To  Court  with  us,  where  your  true  bridal  troth 
Shall  be  fulfilled  with  golden  marriage  bells. 
Now,  friends,  the  venison  pasty !     We  must  hear  j 
The  Malmsey  Butt  and  Down  the  Merry  Red 

Lane, 
Ere  we  set  out,  at  dawn,  for  London  Town. 

ROBIN 

Allan-a-dale  shall  touch  a  golden  string 
To  speed  our  feast,  sire,  for  he  soars  above 
The  gross  needs  of  the  Churchman ! 

RICHARD 

Allan-a-Dale? 

WILL    SCARLET 

Our  green-wood  minstrel,  sire !     His  harp  is  ours 
Because  we  won  his  bride  for  him. 

RICHARD 

His  bride? 

REYNOLD   GREEN-LEAF 

Was  to  be  wedded,  sire,  against  her  will 
Last  May,  to  a  rich  old  baron. 

RICHARD 

Pigeon-pie  — 
And  Malmsey  —  yes  —  a  rich  old  baron  —  tell  J 

[135] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Sire,  on  the  wedding  day,  my  merry  men 
Crowded  the  aisles  with  uninvited  guests ; 
And,  as  the  old  man  drew  forth  the  golden  ring, 
They  threw  aside  their  cloaks  with  one  great  shout 
Of  '  Sherwood ' ;  and,  for  all  its  crimson  panes, 
The  church  was  one  wild  sea  of  Lincoln  green ! 
The  Forest  had  broken  in,  sire,  and  the  bride 
Like  a  wild  rose  tossing  on  those  green  boughs, 
Was  borne  away  and  wedded  here  by  Tuck 
To  her  true  lover ;  and  so  —  his  harp  is  ours. 

ALLAN-A-DALE 
No  feasting-song,  sire,  but  the  royal  theme 
Of  chivalry, —  a  song  I  made  last  night 
In  yonder  ruined  chapel.     It  is  called 
The  Old  Knights  Vigil. 

RICHARD 

Our  hearts  will  keep  it  young! 
[Allan-a-dal'e  sings,  Shadow-of-a-leaf  raises 
his  head  among  the  ferns.~] 

[Song.] 
I 
Once,  in  this  chapel,  Lord 
Young  and  undaunted, 
Over  my  virgin  sword 
Lightly  I  chaunted, — 

[136] 


SHERWOOD 


1  Dawn  ends  my  watch.     I  go 
Shining  to  meet  the  foe !  ' 

II 

*  Swift  with  thy  dawn/  I  said, 

1  Set  the  lists  ringing ! 
Soon  shall  thy  foe  be  sped, 
And  the  world  singing ! 
Bless  my  bright  plume  for  me, 
Christ,  King  of  Chivalry.' 
[Shadow-of-A-LEAF  rises  to  his   knees  amongst 
the  ferns.] 

Ill 

1  War-worn  I  kneel  to-night, 

Lord,  by  Thine  altar ! 
•  Oh,  in  to-morrow's  fight, 
Let  me  not  falter  I 
Bless  my  dark  arms  for  me, 
Christ,  King  of  Chivalry.' 

IV 

*  Keep  Thou  my  broken  sword 

All  the  long  night  through, 
While  I  keep  watch  and  ward ! 

Then  —  the  red  fight  through, 
Bless  the  wrenched  haft  of  me, 
Christ,  King  of  Chivalry.' 
[  137] 


SHERWOOD 


*  Keep,  in  thy  pierced  hands, 

Still  the  bruised  helmet: 
Let  not  their  hostile  hands 

Wholly  o'erwhelm  it ! 
Bless  my  poor  shield  for  me, 
Christ,  King  of  Chivalry.' 

VI 

c  Keep  Thou  the  sullied  mail, 

Lord,  that  I  tender 
Here,  at  Thine  altar-rail ! 

Then  —  let  Thy  splendour 
Touch  it  once     .     .     .     and  I  go 
Stainless  to  meet  the  foe.' 

[Shadow-of-a-leaf  rises  to  his  feet  and  takes  a 
step  towards  th-e  minstreW] 

[Curiain,\ 


[138] 


ACT  IV 


ACT  IV 

Scene  I.     Garden  of  the  Kings  Palace.     Enter 
John  and  Elinor. 

ELINOR 

You  will  be  King  the  sooner !     Not  a  month 
In  England,  and  my  good  son  Lion-Heart 
Must  wander  over-seas  again.     These  two, 
Huntingdon  and  his  bride,  must  bless  the  star 
Of  errant  knighthood. 


3 


JOHN 

He  stayed  just  long  enough 
To  let  them  pass  one  fearless  honeymoon 
In  the  broad  sunlight  of  his  royal  favour, 
Then,  like  a  meteor  off  goes  great  King  Richard, 
And  leaves  them  but  the  shadow  of  his  name 
To  shelter  them  from  my  revenge.     They  know 

it!  •       •  -v 

I  have  seen  her  shiver  like  a  startled  fawn 
And  draw  him  closer,  damn  him,  as  I  passed.  1 

ELINOR 
They  would  have  flitted  to  the  woods  again 
But  for  my  Lord  Fitzwalter. 

[HO 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

That  old  fool 
Has  wits  enough  to  know  I  shall  be  king, 
And  for  his  land's  sake  cheats  himself  to  play 
Sir  Pandarus  of  Troy.     '  'Tis  wrong,  dear  daugh- 
ter, 
To  think  such  evil.'     Pah,  he  makes  me  sick ! 

ELINOR 

Better  to  laugh.     He  is  useful. 

JOHN 

If  I  were  king! 
If  Richard  were  to  perish  over-seas! 
I'd  — 

ELINOR 

You'd  be  king  the  sooner.     Never  fear : 
These  wandering  meteors  flash  into  their  graves 
Like  lightning,  and  no  thunder  follows  them 
To  warn  their  foolish  henchmen. 

JOHN 

[Looking  at  her  s  ear  chin  gly.] 

Shall  I  risk 
The  king's  return  ? 

ELINOR 

What  do  you  mean? 

*  [142] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

I  mean 
I  cannot  wait  and  watch  this  Robin  Hood 
Dangle  the  fruit  of  Tantalus  before  me, 
Then  eat  it  in  my  sight !     I  have  borne  enough ! 
He  gave  me  like  a  fairing  to  my  brother 
In  Sherwood  Forest;  and  I  now  must  watch  him, 
A  happy  bridegroom  with  the  happy  bride, 
Whose  lips  I  meant  for  mine. 


ELINOR 

And  do  you  think 


I  love  to  see  it? 


JOHN 

Had  it  not  been  for  you 
He  would  have  died  ere  this ! 

ELINOR 

Then  let  him  die! 

JOHN 

Oh,  ay,  but  do  you  mean  it,  mother? 

ELINOR 

God, 
I  hate  him,  hate  him ! 

[143] 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

Mother,  he  goes  at  noon 
To  Sherwood  forest,  with  a  bag  of  gold 
For  some  of  his  old  followers.     If,  by  chance 
He    fall  —  how    saith    the    Scripture  ?  —  among 

thieves 
And  vanish  —  is  not  heard  of  any  more, 
I  think  Suspicion  scarce  could  lift  her  head 
Among  these  roses  here  to  hiss  at  me, 
When  Lion-Heart  returns. 

ELINOR 

Vanish  ? 

JOHN 

I  would  not 
Kill  him  too  quickly.  I  would  have  him  taken 
To  a  dungeon  that  I  know. 

ELINOR 

You  have  laid  your  trap 

f Already?     Tell  me.     You  need  not  be  afraid! 

I  saw  them  kiss,  in  the  garden,  yesternight; 
And  I  have  wondered,  ever  since,  if  fire 
Could  make  a  brand  quite  hot  enough  to  stamp 
My  hate  upon  him. 


[  144] 


"a  happy  bridegroom  with  the  happy  bride"        Page  143 


I 


SHERWOOD 


JOHN 

Well,  then,  I  will  tell  you  - 
The  plan  is  laid;  and,  if  his  bag  of  gold 
Rejoice  one  serf  to-day,  then  I'll  resign 
Maid  Marian  to  his  loving  arms  for  ever. 
If  not,  we  dance  together  at  the  masque 
To-night,  and  while  she  wonders  at  his  long 
Delay,  I'll  mould  her  body  and  soul  to  mine. 
But  you  must  help  me,  mother,  or  she'll  suspect. 
Do  not  let  slip  your  mask  of  friendliness, 
As    I    have    feared.     Look  —  there    our    lovers 

come 
Beneath  that  arch  of  roses.     Look,  look,  mother, 
They  are  taking  leave  of  one  another  now, 
A  ghastly  parting,  for  he  will  be  gone 
Well  nigh  four  hours,  they  think.     To  look  at 

them, 
One  might  suppose  they  knew  it  was  for  ever. 

ELINOR 

Come,  or  my  hate  will  show  itself  in  my  face : 
I  must  not  see  them. 

[Exeunt  Prince  and  Elinor.     A  pause.     Enter 
Robin  Hood  and  Marian.] 

robin 
So,  good-bye,  once  more, 


Sweetheart. 

[i4S] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

Four  hours ;  how  shall  I  pass  the  time  ? 
Four  hours,  four  ages,  you  will  scarce  be  home 
By  dusk;  how  shall  I  pass  it? 

ROBIN 

You've  to  think 
What  robe  to  wear  at  the  great  masque  to-night 
And  then  to  don  it.     When  you've  done  all  that 
I  shall  be  home  again. 

MARIAN 
What,  not  before? 

ROBIN 
That's  not  unlikely,  either. 

MARIAN 

Now  you  mock  me, 
But  you'll  be  back  before  the  masque  begins. 

ROBIN 
I  warrant  you  I  will. 

MARIAN 

It  is  a  month 
To-day  since  we  were  married.     Did  you  know  it? 
Fie,  I  believe  you  had  forgotten,  Robin. 

[h6] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

I  had,  almost.     If  marriage  make  the  moons 
Fly,  as  this  month  has  flown,  we  shall  be  old 
And  grey  in  our  graves  before  we  know  it. 
I  wish  that  we  could  chain  old  Father  Time. 

MARIAN 

And  break  his  glass  into  ten  thousand  pieces. 

ROBIN 
And  drown  his  cruel  scythe  ten  fathom  deep, 
Under  the  bright  blue  sea  whence  Love  was  born : 

MARIAN 

Ah,  but  we  have  not  parted  all  this  month 
More  than  a  garden's  breadth,  an  arrow's  flight : 
Time  will  be  dead  till  you  come  back  again. 
Four  hours  of  absence  make  four  centuries! 
Do  you  remember  how  the  song  goes,  Robin, 
That  bids  true  lovers  not  to  grieve  at  parting 
Often?  for  Nature  gently  severs  them  thus, 
Training  them  up  with  kind  and  tender  art, 

For  the  great  day  when  they  must  part  for  ever. 

i 

ROBIN 

Do  you  believe  it,  Marian? 

MARIAN 

No;  for  love 
Buried  beneath  the  dust  of  life  and  death, 

[147] 


SHERWOOD 


Would  wait  for  centuries  of  centuries, 

Ages  of  ages,  until  God  remembered, 

And,    through    that   perishing   cloud-wrack,    face 

looked  up 
Once  more  to  loving  face. 

ROBIN 

Your  hope  —  and  mine ! 
Is  not  a  man's  poor  memory,  indeed, 
A  daily  resurrection  ?     Your  hope  —  and  mine ! 

MARIAN 

And  all  the  world's  at  heart !     I  do  believe  it. 

ROBIN 

And  I  —  if  only  that  so  many  souls 

Like  yours  have  died  believing  they  should  meet 

Again,  lovers  and  children,  little  children ! 

God  will  not  break  that  trust.     I  have  found  my 

heaven 
Again  in  you ;  and,  though  I  stumble  still, 
Your  small  hand  leads  me  thro'  the  darkness,  up 
And  onward,  to  the  heights  I  dared  not  see, 
And  dare  not  even  now;  but  my  head  bows 
Above  your  face ;  I  see  them  in  your  eyes. 
Love,  point  me  onward  still ! 

[He  takes  her  in  his  arms.'] 

Good-bye !     Good-bye ! 

[i48] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN  *~^7 

Come  back,  come  back,  before  the  masque  begins ! 

ROBIN 

Ay,  or  a  little  later  —  never  fear : 
You'll  not  so  easily  lose  me. 

MARIAN 

I  shall  count 
The  minutes ! 

ROBIN 
Why,  you're  trembling ! 

MARIAN 

Yes,  I  am  foolish. 
This  is  the  first  small  parting  we  have  had; 
But  —  you'll  be  back  ere  dusk? 

ROBIN 

[Laughing.  J 

Ah,  do  you  think 
That  chains  of  steel  could  hold  me,  sweet,  from 

you, 
With  those  two  heavenly  eyes  to  call  me  home, 
Those  lips  to  welcome  me?     Good-bye! 

[  149  ] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 

Good-bye ! 
k  [He  goes  hurriedly  out.  She  looks  after  him  for 
V  a  moment,  then  suddenly  calls. ] 

Robin !     Ah,  well,  no  matter  now  —  too  late ! 
/ [She  stands  looking  after  him.~\ 


Scene  II.  Sherwood  Forest:  dusk.  Outside  the 
cave,  as  in  the  second  act.  Shadow-of-a- 
Leaf  runs  quickly  across  the  glade,  followed 
by  Puck. 

puck 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf !     Shadow-of-a-Leaf !     Shadow- 
of-a-Leaf  ! 
Don't  dance  away  like  that ;  don't  hop ;  don't  skip 
Like  that,  I  tell  you !     I'll  never  do  it  again, 
I  promise.     Don't  be  silly  now !     Come  here ; 
I  want  to  tell  you  something.     Ah,  that's  right. 
Come,  sit  down  here  upon  this  bank  of  thyme 
1  While  I  thine  amiable  ears  ' —  Oh,  no, 
Forgive  me,  ha !  ha !  ha ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Now,  Master  Puck, 
You'll  kindly  keep  your  word !     A  foxglove  spray 
In  the  right  hand  is  deadlier  than  the  sword 
That  mortals  use,  and  one  resounding  thwack 
[ISO] 


SHERWOOD 


Applied  to  your  slim  fairyhood's  green  limbs 
Will  make  it  painful,  painful,  very  painful, 
Next  time  your  worship  wishes  to  sit  down 
Cross-legged  upon  a  mushroom. 

PUCK 

Ha!  ha!  ha! 
Poor  Shadow-of-a-Leaf ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

You  keep  your  word,  that's  all ! 

PUCK 

Haven't  I  kept  my  word  ?     Wasn't  it  I 

That  made  you  what  these  poor,  dull  mortals  call 

Crazy?     Who   crowned   you   with   the   cap   and 

bells? 
Who  made  you  such  a  hopeless,  glorious  fool 
That  wise  men  are  afraid  of  every  word 
You  utter?     Wasn't  it  I  that  made  you  free 
Of  fairyland  —  that  showed  you  how  to  pluck 
Fern-seed  by  moonlight,  and  to  walk  and  talk 
Between  the  lights,  with  urchins  and  with  elves? 
Is  there  another  fool  twixt  earth  and  heaven 
Like  you  —  ungrateful  rogue  —  answer  me  that ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 
All  true,  dear  gossip,  and  for  saving  me 
From  the  poor  game  of  blind  man's  buff  men  call 

[151] 


SHERWOOD 


Wisdom,  I  thank  you;  but  to  hang  and  buzz 
Like  a  mad  dragon-fly,  now  on  my  nose, 
Now  on  my  neck,  now  singing  in  my  ears, 
Is  that  to  make  me  free  of  fairyland? 
No  —  that's  enough  to  make  the  poor  fool  mad 
And  take  to  human  wisdom. 

PUCK 

Yet  you  love  me, 
Ha !  ha !  —  you  love  me  more  than  all  the  rest. 
You  can't  deny  it !     You  can't  deny  it !     Ha !  ha ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

I  won't  deny  it,  gossip.     E'en  as  I  think 
There  must  be  something  loves  us  creatures,  Puck, 
More  than  the  Churchmen  say.     We  are  so  teased 
With  thorns,  bullied  with  briars,  baffled  with  stars. 
I've  lain  sometimes  and  laughed  until  I  cried 
To  see  the  round  moon  rising  o'er  these  trees 
With  that  same  foolish  face  of  heavenly  mirth 
Winking  at  lovers  in  the  blue-bell  glade. 

PUCK 

Lovers!     Ha!  ha!     I  caught  a  pair  of  'em 
Last  night,  behind  the  ruined  chapel!     Lovers! 
O  Lord,  these  mortals,  they'll  be  the  death  of  me] 
Hist,  who  comes  here? 

[152] 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Scarlet  and  Little  John, 
And  all  the  merry  men  —  not  half  so  merry 
Since  Robin  went  away.     He  was  to  come 
And  judge  between  the  rich  and  poor  to-day. 
I  think  he  has  forgotten. 

PUCK 

Hist,  let  me  hide 
Behind  this  hawthorn  bush  till  they  are  gone. 
[Enter  the  foresters  —  they  all  go  into  the  cave 
except   Scarlet   and   Little   John,    who 
stand    at    the    entrance,    looking    anxiously 
back.~\ 

LITTLE   JOHN 

I  have  never  known  the  time  when  Robin  Hood 
Said  '  I  will  surely  come/  and  hath  not  been 
Punctual  as  yonder  evening  star. 

SCARLET 

Pray  God 
No  harm  hath  fallen  him.  Indeed  he  said, 
Count  on  my  coming. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

I'll  sound  yet  one  more  call. 
They  say  these  Courts  will  spoil  a  forester. 
It  may  be  he  has  missed  the  way.     Fd  give 
[153] 


SHERWOOD 


My  sword-hand  just  to  hear  his  jolly  bugle 
Answer  me. 

[He  blows   a  forest   call.      They   listen.     All  is 
silent.  ] 

SCARLET 

Silence  —  only  the  sough  of  leaves ! 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Well,  I'm  for  sleep:  the  moon  is  not  so  bright 
Since  Robin  left  us. 

SCARLET 

Ha!     Shadow-of-a-Leaf,   alone? 
I  thought  I  heard  thy  voice. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Oh,  he  will  talk 
With  ferns  and  flowers  and  whisper  to  the  mice! 
Perfectly  happy,  art  thou  not,  dear  fool  ? 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Perfectly  happy  since  I  lost  my  wits ! 

SCARLET 

Pray  that  thou  never  dost  regain  them,  then, 
Shadow-of-a-Leaf. 

[154] 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

I  thank  you  kindly,  sir, 
And  pray  that  you  may  quickly  lose  your  own, 
And  so  be  happy,  too.     Robin's  away, 
But,  if  you'd  lost  your  wits,  you  would  not  grieve. 

SCARLET 

Good  night,  good  fool. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

I  will  not  say  *  Good  night/ 
Wise  man,  for  I  am  crazed,  and  so  I  know 
'Tis  good,  and  yet  you'll  grieve.     I  wish  you  both 
A  bad  night  that  will  tease  your  wits  away 
And  make  you  happy. 
{The  Outlaws  enter  the  cave.     Shadow-of-a- 

Leaf    beckons    to    Puck,    who    steals    out 

again.] 

PUCK 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf,   some  change 
Is  creeping  o'er  the  forest.     I  myself 
Scarce  laugh  so  much  since  Robin  went  away! 
Oh,  my  head  hangs  as  heavily  as  a  violet 
Brimmed    with    the    rain.     Shadow-of-a-Leaf,    a 

cloud, 
A  whisper  steals  across  this  listening  wood! 
I  am  growing  afraid.     Dear  fool,  I  am  thy  Puck, 

[155] 


SHERWOOD 


But  I  am  growing  afraid  there  comes  an  end 
To  all  our  Sherwood  revels,  and  I  shall  never 
Tease  thee   again. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Here  comes  the  King! 
[Enter  Oberon.] 

Hail,  Oberon. 
King  of  the  fairies,  I  strew  ferns  before  you. 
There  are  no  palms  here:  ferns  do  just  as  well! 

OBERON 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  our  battles  all  are  wasted; 
Our  fairy  dreams  whereby  we  strove  to  warn 
Robin  and   Marian,   wasted.     Shadow-of-a-Leaf, 
Dear  Robin  Hood,  the  lover  of  the  poor, 
And  kind  Maid  Marian,  our  forest  queen, 
Are  in  the  toils  at  last! 

[He  pauses.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Speak,  speak! 

OBERON 

Prince  John 
Hath  trapped  and  taken  Robin. 


SHERWOOD 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Is  not  Richard 
King  of  this  England?     Did  not  Richard  tempt 
Robin,  for  Marian's  sake,  to  leave  the  forest? 
Did  he  not  swear  upon  the  Holy  Cross 
That  Robin  should  be  Earl  of  Huntingdon 
And  hold  his  lands  in  safety? 

OBERON 

Only  fear 
Of  Richard  held  the  wicked  Prince  in  leash. 
But  Richard  roamed  abroad  again.     Prince  John 
Would  murder  Robin  secretly. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Wise  men 
Fight  too  much  for  these  holy  sepulchres! 
Are  not  the  living  images  of  God 
Better  than  empty  graves? 

OBERON 

One  grave  is  filled 
Now;  for  our  fairy  couriers  have  brought 

Tidings  that  Richard  Lion-heart  is  dead. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 
Dead? 

[157] 


SHERWOOD 


OBERON 

Dead!  In  a  few  brief  hours  the  news  will  reach 
The  wicked  Prince.  He  will  be  King  of  England, 
With  Marian  in  his  power ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

No  way  to  save  them ! 

OBERON 

We  cannot  break  our  fairy  vows  of  silence. 

A    mortal,    Shadow-of-a-Leaf,    can    break    those 

vows, 
But  only  on  pain  of  death. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Oberon,  I, 
Shadow-of-a-Leaf,  the  fool,  must  break  my  vowsl 
I  must  save  Robin  Hood  that  he  may  save 
Marian  from  worse  than  death. 

OBERON 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf, 
Think  what  death  means  to  you,  never  to  join 
Our  happy  sports  again,  never  to  see 
The  moonlight  streaming  through  these   ancient 

oaks 
Again,  never  to  pass  the  fairy  gates 
Again.     We  cannot  help  it.     They  will  close 
Like  iron  in  your  face,  and  you  will  hear 

[158] 


SHERWOOD 


Our  happy  songs  within;  but  you  will  lie 

Alone,  without,  dying,  and  never  a  word 

To  comfort  you,  no  hand  to  touch  your  brow. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

So  be  it.     I  shall  see  them  entering  in! 

The   time    is    brief.     Quick,    tell    me,    where    is 

Robin? 
Quick,  or  the  news  that  makes  Prince  John  a  king 
Will  ruin  all. 

OBERON 

Robin  is  even  now 
Thrust  in  the  great  dark  tower  beyond  the  wood, 
The  topmost  cell  where  foot  can  never  climb. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Cannot  an  arrow  reach  it?     Ay,  be  swift; 
Come,  lead  me  thither. 

OBERON 

I  cannot  disobey 
The  word  that  kills  the  seed  to  raise  the  wheat, 
The   word   that  —  Shadow-of-a-Leaf ,    I    think   I 

know 
Now,  why  great  kings  ride  out  to  the  Crusade. 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Quickly,  come,  quickly ! 

[  159  ] 


SHERWOOD 


[Exeunt  Oberon  and  Shadow-of-a-Leaf. 
Puck  remains  staring  after  them,  then  van- 
ishes with  a  sob,  between  the  trees.  Little 
John  and  Scarlet  appear  once  more  at  the 
mouth  of  the  cave."] 

SCARLET 

I  thought  I  heard  a  voice. 
LITTLE  JOHN 

'Twas  only  Shadow-of-a-Leaf  again.     He  talks 
For  hours  among  the  ferns,  plays  with  the  flowers, 
And  whispers  to  the  mice,  perfectly  happy! 

SCARLET 

I  cannot  rest  for  thinking  that  some  harm 

Hath  chanced  to  Robin.     Call  him  yet  once  more. 

[Little  John  blows  his  bugle.    All  is  silent. 

They  stand  listening.^ 


Scene  III.  A  gloomy  cell.  Robin  bound. 
Prince  John  and  two  mercenaries.  A  low 
narrow  door  in  the  background,  small  barred 
window  on  the  left. 

PRINCE   JOHN 

[To  the  Mercenaries.^ 
Leave  us  a  moment.     I  have  private  matters 
[160] 


SHERWOOD 


To  lay  before  this  friend  of  all  the  poor. 

You  may  begin  to  build  the  door  up  now, 

So  that  you  do  not  wall  me  in  with  him. 

[The  two  men  begin  filling  up  the  doorway  with 

rude  blocks  of  masonry.] 
So  now,  my  good  green  foot-pad,  you  are  trapped 
At  last,  trapped  in  the  practice  of  your  trade! 
Trapped,  as  you  took  your  stolen  Norman  gold 
To  what  was  it  —  a  widow,  or  Saxon  serf 
With  eye  put  out  for  breaking  forest  laws  ? 
You  hold  with  them,  it  seems.     Your  dainty  soul 
Sickens  at  our  gross  penalties ;  and  so 
We'll  not  inflict  them  on  your  noble  self, 
Although  we  have  the  power.     There's  not  a  soul 
Can  ever  tell  where  Robin  Hood  is  gone. 
These  walls  will  never  echo  it. 

[He  taps  the  wall  with  his  sword.] 

And  yet 
There  surely  must  be  finer  ways  to  torture 
So  fine  a  soul  as  yours.     Was  it  not  you 
Who  gave  me  like  a  fairing  to  my  brother 
With  lofty  condescension  in  your  eyes; 
And  shall  I  call  my  mercenaries  in 
And  bid  them  burn  your  eyes  out  with  hot  irons? 
Richard  is  gone  —  he'll  never  hear  of  it ! 
An  Earl  that  plays  the  robber  disappears, 
That's  all.     Most  like  he  died  in  some  low  scuffle 
Out  in  the  greenwood.     I  am  half  inclined 
[161] 


SHERWOOD 


To  call  for  red-hot  irons  after  all, 
So  that  your  sympathy  with  Saxon  churls 
May  be  more  deep,  you  understand;  and  then 
It  would  be  sweet  for  you,  alone  and  blind, 
To  know  that  you  could  never  in  this  life 
.See  Marian's  face  again.     But  no  —  that's  bad, 
Bad  art  to  put  hope's  eyes  out.     It  destroys 
Half  a  man's  fear  to  rob  him  of  his  hope. 
No;  you  shall  drink  the  dregs  of  it.     Hope  shall 

die 
More  exquisite  a  death.     Robin,  my  friend, 
You  understand  that,  when  I  quit  your  presence, 
This  bare  blank  cell  becomes  your  living  tomb. 
Do  you  not  comprehend  ?     It's  none  so  hard. 
The  doorway  will  be  built  up.     There  will  be 
No  door,  you  understand,  but  just  a  wall, 
Some  six  feet  thick,  of  solid  masonry. 
Nobody  will  disturb  you,  even  to  bring 
Water  or  food.    You'll  starve  —  see  —  like  a  rat, 
Bricked  up  and  buried.     But  you'll  have  time  to 

think 
Of  how  I  tread  a  measure  at  the  masque 
To-night,    with    Marian,    while    her    wide    eyes 

wonder 
Where  Robin  is  —  and  old  Fitzwalter  smiles 
And  bids  his  girl  be  gracious  to  the  Prince 
For  his  land's  sake.     Ah,  ha !  you  wince  at  that ! 


[162] 


SHERWOOD 


Will  you  not  speak  a  word  before  I  go? 
Speak,  damn  you ! 

[He  strikes  Robin  across  the  face  with  his  glove, 
Robin  remains  silent.] 

Six  days  hence,  if  you  keep  watch 
At  yonder  window  (you'll  be  hungry  then) 
You  may  catch  sight  of  Marian  and  Prince  John 
Wandering  into  the  gardens  down  below. 
You  will  be  hungry  then ;  perhaps  you'll  strive 
To  call  to  us,  or  stretch  a  meagre  arm 
Through  those  strong  bars;  but  then  you  know 

the  height 
Is  very  great  —  no  voice  can  reach  to  the  earth : 
This  is  the  top-most  cell  in  my  Dark  Tower. 
Men  look  like  ants  below  there.     I  shall  say 
To  Marian,  See  that  creature  waving  there 
High  up  above  us,  level  with  the  clouds, 
Is  it  not  like  a  winter-shrivelled  fly? 
And  she  will  laugh;  and  I  will  pluck  her  roses. 
And    then  —  and    then  —  there    are    a    hundred 

ways, 
You    know,    to    touch    a    woman's    blood    with 

thoughts 
Beyond  its  lawful  limits.     Ha  !   ha !   ha  ! 
By  God,  you  almost  spoke  to  me,  I  think. 
Touches  at  twilight,  whispers  in  the  dark, 
Sweet  sympathetic  murmurs  o'er  the  loss 
Of  her  so  thoughtless  Robin,  do  you  think 

[163] 


SHERWOOD 


Maid  Marian  will  be  quite  so  hard  to  win 
When  princes  come  to  woo?     There  will  be  none 
To  interrupt  us  then.     Time  will  be  mine 
To  practise  all  the  amorous  arts  of  Ovid, 
And,  at  the  last  — 

ROBIN 
Will  you  not  free  my  hands? 
You  have  your  sword.     But  I  would  like  to  fight 

you 
Here,  with  my  naked  hands.     I  want  no  more. 

PRINCE    JOHN 

Ha !  ha  I     At  last  the  sullen  speaks. 

That's  all 
I  wanted.     I  have  struck  you  in  the  face. 
Is't  not  enough  ?     You  can't  repay  that  blow. 

ROBIN 

Bury  me  down  in  hell  and  I'll  repay  it 
The  day  you  die,  across  your  lying  mouth 
That  spoke  of  my  true  lady,  I  will  repay  it, 
Before  the  face  of  God! 

PRINCE    JOHN 
[Laughing.'] 

Meanwhile,  for  me 
Till  you  repay  that  blow,  there  is  the  mouth 
Of  Marian,  the  sweet  honey-making  mouth 

[i64] 


SHERWOOD 


That  shall  forestall  your  phantom  blow  with  balm. 

Oh,  you'll  go  mad  too  soon  if  I  delay. 

I  am  glad  you  spoke.     Farewell,  the  masons  wait. 

And  I  must  not  be  late  for  Marian. 

[Exit  thro9  the  small  aperture  now  left  in  the 
doorway.  It  is  rapidly  closed  and  sounds 
of  heavy  masonry  being  piled  against  it  are 
heard.  Robin  tries  to  free  his  hands  and 
after  an  effort,  succeeds.  He  hurls  himself 
against  the  doorway,  and  finds  it  hopeless. 
He  turns  to  the  window,  peers  through  it  for 
a  moment,  then  suddenly  unwinds  a  scarf 
from  his  neck,  ties  it  to  one  of  the  bars  and 
stands  to  one  side.'] 

ROBIN 

Too  high  a  shot  for  most  of  my  good  bowmen ! 
What's  that?     A  miss? 

[He  looks  thro*  the  window.] 

Good  lad,  he'll  try  again ! 
[He  stands  at  the  side  once  more  and  an  arrow 

comes  thro'  the  window.] 
Why,  that's  like  magic! 

[He  pulls  up  the  thread  attached  to  it.] 

Softly,  or  'twill  break ! — 
Ah,  now  'tis  sturdy  cord. 

—  I'll  make  it  fast, 
But,  how  to  break  these  bars ! 

[i65] 


1 


SHERWOOD 


St.  Nicholas, 
There's  someone  climbing.     He  must  have  a  head 
Of  iron,  and  the  lightness  of  a  cat! 
Downward  is  bad  enough,  but  up  is  more 
Than  mortal!     Who  the  devil  can  it  be? 
Thank  God,  it's  growing  dark.     But  what  a  risk ! 
None  of  my  merry  men  could  e'en  attempt  it. 
I'm  very  sure  it  can't  be  Little  John. 
What,   Shadow-of-a-Leaf ! 
[Shadow-of-a-Leaf  appears  at  the  window.'] 
'Fore  God,  dear  faithful  fool, 
I  am  glad  to  see  you. 

\  SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Softly,  gossip,  softly, 
Pull  up  the  rope  a  little  until  we  break 
This  bar  away  —  or  some  kind  friend  may  see 
The  dangling  end  below.     Now  here's  a  tooth- 
pick, 
Six  inches  of  grey  ste^l,  for  you  to  work  with, 
And  here's  another  for  me.     Pick  out  the  mortar ! 

[They  work  to  loosen  the  bars.] 
Wait!     Here's  a  rose  I  brought  you  in  my  cap 
And  here's  a  spray  of  fern!     Old  Nature's  keys 
Open  all  prisons,  I'll  throw  them  in  for  luck, 
[He  throws  them  into  the  cell  and  begins  work' 

ing  feverishly  again.] 
So  that  the  princes  of  the  world  may  know 
[166] 


SHERWOOD 


The  forest  let  you  out.     Down  there  on  earth, 
If  any  sees  me,  they  will  only  think 
The  creepers  are  in  leaf.     Pick  out  the  mortar! 
That's  how  the  greenwood  works.     You  know, 

'twill  thrust 
Its  tendrils  through  these  big  grey  stones  one  day 
And  pull  them  down.     I  noticed  in  the  court-yard 
The  grass  is  creeping  through  the  crevices 
Already,  and  yellow  dandelions  crouch 
In  all  the  crumbling  corners.     Pick  it  out ! 
This  is  a  very  righteous  work  indeed 
For  men  in  Lincoln  green;  for  what  are  we 
But  tendrils  of  old  Nature,  herald  sprays! 
We  scarce  anticipate.     Pick  the  mortar  out. 
Quick,  there's  no  time  to  lose,  although  to-night 
We're  in  advance  of  sun  and  moon  and  stars 
And  all  the  trickling  sands  in  Time's  turned  glass. 

[With  a  sudden  cry.~\ 
Richard  is  dead! 


ROBIN 
Richard  is  dead!     The  King 


Is   dead ! 


SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Ah,  dead !     Come,  pick  the  mortar  out,  \ 
Out  of  the  walls  of  towers  and  shrines  and  tombs !    \ 
For  now  Prince  John  is  king,  and  Lady  Marian     ^J 

[167] 


SHERWOOD 


C 


In  peril,  gossip !     Yet  we  are  in  advance 

Of  sun  and  moon  to-night,  for  sweet  Prince  John 

Is  not  aware  yet  of  his  kinglihood, 

Or  of  his  brother's  death. 

ROBIN 
[Pausing  a  moment.] 

Why,    Shadow-of-a-Leaf, 
What  does  this  mean? 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Come,  pick  the  mortar  out; 
You  have  no  time  to  lose.     This  very  night 
My  Lady  Marian  must  away  to  Sherwood. 
At  any  moment  the  dread  word  may  come 
That  makes  John  King  of  England.     Quick,  be 
quick ! 

ROBIN 
She  is  at  the  masque  to-night ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

Then  you  must  mask 
And  fetch  her  thence!     Ah,  ha,  the  bar  works 

loose. 
Pull  it! 

[They  pull  at  the  bar,  get  it  free,  and  throw  it 

into  the  cell.] 

Now,  master,  follow  me  down  the  rope. 

[Exit  Robin  throy  the  window.] 

[168] 


SHERWOOD 


Scene  IV.  Night.  The  garden  of  the  King's 
palace  (as  before) ,  but  lighted  with  torches 
for  the  masque.  Music  swells  up  and  dies 
away  continually.  Maskers  pass  to  and  fro 
between  the  palace  and  the  garden.  On  the 
broad  terrace  in  front  some  of  them  are 
dancing  a  galliard. 

[Prince  John  enters  and  is  met  by  Queen 
Elinor,  neither  of  them  masked.] 

ELINOR 

All  safe? 

PRINCE   JOHN 

Ay,  buried  and  bricked  up  now,  to  think 
Alone,  in  the  black  night,  of  all  I  told  him. 
Thank  God,  we  have  heard  the  last  of   Robin 
Hood. 

ELINOR 

[She  puts  on  her  mask.] 
You  are  sure? 

PRINCE    JOHN 

I  saw  him  entombed  with  my  own  eyes ! 
Six  feet  of  solid  masonry.     Look  there, 
There's  the  young  knight  you've  lately  made  your 
own. 

[i69] 


SHERWOOD 


Where  is  my  Lady  Marian?     Ah,  I  see  her! 
With  that  old  hypocrite,  Fitzwalter. 
[They  part.     Prince  John  puts  on  his  mask  as 
he  goes.] 


A    LADY 


But  tell  me 


Where  is  Prince  John? 


r 


A   MASKER 

That  burly-shouldered  man 
By  yonder  pillar,  talking  with  old  Fitzwalter, 
And  the  masked  girl,  in  green,  with  red-gold  hair, 
Is  Lady  Marian! 

THE    LADY 

Where  is  Robin  Hood? 
I  have  never  seen  him,  but  from  all  one  hears 
He  is  a  wood-god  and  a  young  Apollo, 
And  a  more  chaste  Actaeon  all  in  one. 

MASKER 

Oh,  ay,  he  never  watched  Diana  bathing, 
Or,  if  he  did,  all  Sherwood  winked  at  it. 
Who  knows?     Do  you  believe  a  man  and  maid 
Can  sleep  out  in  the  woods  all  night,  as  these 
Have  slept  a  hundred  times,  and  put  to  shame 
Our  first  poor  parents;  throw  the  apple  aside 

[  170] 


SHERWOOD 


And  float  out  of  their  leafy  Paradise 
Like  angels? 

LADY 

No;  I  fear  the  forest  boughs 
Could  tell  sad  tales.     Oh,  I  imagine  it  — 
Married  to  Robin,  by  a  fat  hedge-priest 
Under  an  altar  of  hawthorn,  with  a  choir 
Of  sparrows,  and  a  spray  of  cuckoo-spit 
For  holy  water !     Oh,  the  modest  chime 
Of  blue-bells  from  a  fairy  belfry,  a  veil 
Of  evening  mist,  a  robe  of  golden  hair; 
A  blade  of  grass  for  a  ring;  a  band  of  thieves  • 
In  Lincoln  green  to  witness  the  sweet  bans; 
A  glowworm  for  a  nuptial  taper,  a  bed 
Of  rose-leaves,  and  wild  thyme  and  wood-doves' 

down. 
Quick !     Draw    the   bridal    curtains  —  three    tall 

ferns  — 
Across  the  cave  mouth,  lest  a  star  should  peep 
And  make  the  wild  rose  leap  into  her  face! 
Pish!     A    sweet    maid!     But    where    is    Robin 

Hood? 

MASKER 

I  know  not;  but  he'd  better  have  a  care 

Of  Mistress  Marian.      If  I  know  Prince  John     \ 

He  has  marked  her  for  his  own. 

[171] 


SHERWOOD 


LADY 

I  cannot  see 
What  fascinates  him. 

MASKER 

No,  you  are  right,  nor  I. 
[They  part.     An  old  lady  comes  up  to  him.] 

OLD    LADY 

Is  not  Maid  Marian  beautiful?     I  think 
She  seems  a  greenwood  spirit  that  has  strayed 
By  accident  into  our  courtly  world. 

MASKER 

Yes,  yes;  you  are  right;  she  is  most  beautiful. 
But  she  must  have  a  care  of  good  Prince  John. 

OLD   LADY 

Oh,  that  King  Richard  would  come  home  again. 

[They  part.] 

PRINCE   JOHN 

Come,  Lady  Marian,  let  me  lead  you  out 
To  tread  a  measure. 

MARIAN 

Pray,  sir,  pardon  me! 


I  am  tired. 

[172] 


SHERWOOD 


FITZWALTER 
[Whispering  angrily  to  her.] 
Now,   Marian,  be  not  so  ungracious. 
You  both  abuse  him  and  disparage  us. 
His  courtiers  led  the  ladies  they  did  choose. 
Do  not  displease  him,  girl.     I  pray  you,  go ! 
Dance  out  your  galliard.     God's  dear  holy-bread, 
Y'are  too  forgetful.     Dance,  or  by  my  troth, 
You'll  move  my  patience.     I  say  you  do  us  wrong. 

MARIAN 

I  will  do  what  you  will.     Lead,  lead  your  dance. 
{Exeunt  John  and  Marian.] 

FIRST   MASKER 

\To  a  lady,  as  they  come  up  from  the  garden.] 
.Will  you  not  let  me  see  your  face  now,  sweet? 

LADY 

You  hurt  my  lip  with  that  last  kiss  of  yours. 
Hush,  do  not  lean  your  face  so  close,  I  pray  you ; 
Loosen  my  fingers.     There's  my  lord. 

FIRST   MASKER 

Where?     Where? 
Now,  if  I  know  him,  I  shall  know  your  name! 

LADY 
That  tall  man  with  the  damozel  in  red. 
[  173] 


SHERWOOD 


FIRST   MASKER 

Oh,  never  fear  him.     He,  too,  wore  a  mask ! 
I  saw  them  — 

[They  pass  out  talking.] 


SECOND   MASKER 
[Looking  after  them.'] 
Saw  you  those  two  turtle-doves? 


SECOND    LADY 


Yes. 


SECOND   MASKER 

Come  with  me,  I'll  show  you  where  I  caught  them 

Among  the  roses,  half  an  hour  ago. 

[They  laugh  and  exeunt  into  the  gardens.  The 
music  swells  up  and  more  dancers  appear.] 

[Enter  Robin  Hood,  still  in  his  forester's  garby 
hut  wearing  a  mask.  He  walks  as  i) 
wounded  and  in  pain.  He  sits  down  in  the 
shadow  of  a  pillar  watching,  and  partly  con- 
cealed from  the  throng.] 

third  lady 
Remember  now  to  say  you  did  not  see  me 
Here  at  the  masque. 

third  masker 

Or  shall  I  say  that  I 
Was  out  in  Palestine  ? 

[174] 


SHERWOOD 


[They  pass.     Enter  little  Arthur   Plantage- 
net.     He  comes  up  to  Robin  Hood.] 

ARTHUR 

Are  you  not  Robin  Hood? 

ROBIN 

Hush,  Arthur.     Don't  you  see  I  wear  a  mask 
Like  all  the  rest  to-night  ? 

ARTHUR 

Why  do  they  wear 
Masks  ? 

ROBIN 
They  must  always  wear  some  sort  of  mask 
At  court.     Sometimes  they  wear  them   all  their 
lives. 

ARTHUR 
You  are  jesting,  Robin.     Now  I  wanted  you 
To  tell  me  tales  of  Sherwood.     Tell  me  how 
You  saved  Will  Scarlet. 

ROBIN 

Why,  I've  told  you  that 
A  score  of  times. 

ARTHUR 
I  know,  I  want  to  hear  it 
Again.     Well,  tell  me  of  that  afternoon 

[i7S] 


SHERWOOD 


When  Lion-heart  came  home  from  the  Crusade. 
I  have  often  thought  of  that.  It, must  have  been 
Splendid!     You  weren't  expecting  it  at  all? 

ROBIN 

No,  not  at  all;  but,  Arthur,  tell  me  first 
Have  you  seen  Lady  Marian? 

ARTHUR 

Yes,   I  saw  her 

Treading  a  measure  with  my  Uncle  John! 

ROBIN 

Stand  where  you  are  and  watch;  and,  if  you  see 

her, 
Beckon  her.     Then  I'll  tell  you  how  the  King 
Came  home  from  the  Crusade. 

ARTHUR 

First,  let  me  tell  you 
Just  how  I  think  it  was.     It  must  have  been 
Like  a  great  picture.     All  your  outlaws  there 
Sitting  around  your  throne  of  turf,  and  you 
Judging  the  rich  and  poor.     That's  how  it  was 
Last  night,  I  dreamed  of  it;  and  you  were  taking 
The  baron's  gold  and  giving  it  to  the  halt 
And  blind;  and  then  there  was  a  great  big  light 
Between  the  trees,  as  if  a  star  had  come 

[i76] 


SHERWOOD 


Down  to  the  earth  and  caught  among  the  boughs, 
With  beams  like  big  soft  swords  amongst  the  ferns 
And  leaves,  and  through  the  light  a  mighty  steed 
Stepped,    and    the    King    came    home    from    the 

Crusade. 
Was  it  like  that?     Was  there  a  shining  light? 

ROBIN 
I  think  there  must  have  been,  a  blinding  light. 

ARTHUR 
Filling  an  arch  of  leaves? 

ROBIN 
Yes! 

ARTHUR 

That  was  it! 
That's    how    the    King    came    home    from    the 
Crusade. 

ROBIN 
But  there  —  you've  told  the  story ! 

ARTHUR 

Ah,  not  all! 

ROBIN 

No,  not  quite  all.     What's  that? 
[177] 


SHERWOOD 


[  The  music  suddenly  stops.      The  maskers  crowd 
together  whispering  excitedly.] 

ARTHUR 
Why  have  they  stopped 
The  music?     Ah,   there's  Hubert.     Shall   I   ask 
him? 

ROBIN 
Yes,  quickly,  and  come  back! 
[Arthur  runs  up  to  a  masker.     Several  go  by 
hurriedly.] 

FIRST   MASKER 

The  King  is  dead ! 

SECOND   MASKER 

Where  did  it  happen  ?     France  ? 

FIRST   MASKER 

I  know  not,  sir! 
[Arthur  returns.'] 

ARTHUR 
Robin,  they  say  the  King  is  dead!     So  John 
Is  king  now,  is  he  not? 

ROBIN 

Ay,  John  is  king! 
Now,  tell  me  quickly,  use  your  eyes,  my  boy, 
Where's  Lady  Marian? 

[178] 


SHERWOOD 


Alone ! 


ARTHUR 

Ah,  there  she  is  at  last, 

ROBIN 

Go  to  her  quickly,  and  bring  her  hither. 
[Arthur  runs  of  and  returns  with  Marian.] 

MARIAN 

Robin,  thank  God,  you  have  returned.    I  feared  — 

ROBIN 

No  more,  dear  heart,  you  must  away  to  Sherwood ! 
Shadow-of-a-Leaf  is  waiting  by  the  orchard 
With  your  white  palfrey.     Away,  or  the  new  king 
Will  hunt  us  down.     I'll  try  to  gain  you  time. 
Go  —  quickly! 

MARIAN 

Robin,  your  face  is  white,  you  are  wounded! 
What's  this  —  there's  blood  upon  your  doublet ! 
Robin ! 

ROBIN 
Nothing !    Go,  quickly ! 

MARIAN 

Robin,  I  cannot  leave  you. 
[  179] 


SHERWOOD 


r 


ROBIN 
Go,  Marian.     If  you  ever  loved  me,  go. 


MARIAN 

You'll  follow? 

ROBIN 
Oh,  with  my  last  breath  I  will, 
God  helping  me ;  but  I  must  gain  you  time ! 
Quickly!     Here  comes  the   King! 

l  MARIAN 

*-*—  Oh,  follow  soon ! 

[Exit.] 

[Robin  sits  down  again,  steadying  himself  against 

the  pillar. ] 
[John  appears  at  the  doors  of  the  palace,  above 
the  terrace,  a  scroll  in  his  hand.~\ 

JOHN 
My  friends,  the  King  is  dead ! 

MASKERS 
[Taking  off  their  masks,  with  a  cry.~\ 

Long  live  King  John! 

JOHN 
[Coming  down  amongst  them.~\ 
Our  masque  is  ended  by  this  grievous  news; 
[180] 


SHERWOOD 


But  where's  my  Lady  Marian?     I  had  some  word 
To  speak  with  her !     Not  here !     Why  — 

ROBIN 

[Still  masked,  rises  and  confronts  the  King,  who 
stares  at  him  and  shrinks  back  a  little."] 

All  the  masks 
Are  off,  sire!     No,  perhaps  they  wear  them  still. 

JOHN 
Who  is  this? 

ROBIN 

One  that  was  dead  and  lives.     You  say 
Your  brother,  the  great  King,  is  dead.     Oh,  sire, 
If  that  be  so,  you'll  hear  a  dead  man  speak, 
For  your  dead  brother's  sake.     You  say  the  King 
Is  dead;  but  you  are  king.     So  the  King  lives  1 
You  are  King  of  England  now  from  sea  to  sea, 
Is  it  not  so?     Shout,  maskers,  once  again, 
Long  live  the  King ! 

MASKERS 

Long  live  the  King ! 

ROBIN 

You  see 
What  power  is  yours!     Your  smile  is  life,  your 
frown 

[181] 


SHERWOOD 


Death.     At  a  word  from  you  the  solid  earth 
Would  shake  with  tramp  of  armies.    You  can  call 
Thousands  to  throw  away  their  lives  like  straws 
Upon  your  side,  if  any  foreign  king 
Dare  to  affront  you. 

[He  draws  nearer  to  John,  who  still  shrinks  a 
little,  as  if  in  fear.] 

Richard,  you  say,  is  dead, 
And  yet,  O  King,  I  say  that  the  great  King 
Lives ! 
[He  strikes  John  across  the  face.     John  cowers 

and   staggers    back.     The    Maskers    draw 

their  swords,   the  women   scream   and  rush 

together.     Robin  turns,  sword  in  hand,  to 

confront  the  maskers. ] 
Back,  fools;  for  I  say  that  the  great  King 
Lives.     Do  not  doubt  it.     Ye  have  dreamed  him 

dead 
How  often.     Hark,  God  in  heaven,  ye  know  that 

voice. 
[A  voice  is  heard  drawing  nearer  thro*  the  distant 

darkness  of  the  garden,  singing.     All  listen. 

John's  face  whitens.] 

[Song.] 
Knight,  on  the  narrow  way, 
Where  would'st  thou  ride? 
-  Onward/  I  heard  him  say, 
4  Love,  to  thy  side.' 
[182] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

Tis  Blondel!     Still  vaunt-courier  to  the  King, 
As  when  he  burst  the  bonds  of  Austria !     Listen ! 

[Song  nearer.] 

1  Nay,'  sang  a  bird  above, 

1  Stay,   for  I  see 
Death,  in  the  mask  of  love, 

Waiting  for  thee.' 

MASKERS 

[Resuming    their    masks    and   muttering    to    one 

another.'] 
Can  the   King   live?     Is   this   John's  treachery? 

Look, 
He  is  crushed  with  fear ! 

ROBIN 

Listen!     I'll  go  to  meet  him. 
[Exit  into  the  garden.] 

MASKERS 

It  was  the  song  of  Blondel!     The  same  song 
He  made  with  Richard,  long  since !  — 

Blondel's  voice! 
Just  as  we  heard  it  on  that  summer's  night 
When  Lion-heart  came  home  from  the  Crusade. 

[183] 


SHERWOOD 


[The  Song  still  drawing  nearer,'] 

'Death!     What  is  Death?'  he  cried. 

1 1  must  ride  on, 
On  to  my  true  love's  side, 

Up  to  her  throne !  '       * 

[Enter  Blondel,  from  the  garden.     He  stands, 
startled  by  the  scene  before  him.'] 

MASKERS 

Blondel!     Where   is   the    King?     Where    is   the 
King? 

BLONDEL 

Did  ye  not  know? —  Richard,  the  King,  is  dead! 
MASKERS 

Dead! 

JOHN 

Dead !     And  ye  let  the  living  dog  escape 
That  dared  snarl   at   our   sovereignty.     I   know 

him, 
Risen  from  the  dead  or  not.     I  know  'twas  he, 
'Twas  Robin  Hood !     After  him ;  hunt  him  down. 
Let  him  not  live  to  greet  another  sun* 
After  him! 

[184] 


SHERWOOD 


MASKERS 

[Drawing  their  swords   and  plunging  into   the 
darkness.] 

After  him;  hunt  the  villain  downl 
{Curtain.] 


[185] 


ACT  V 


ACT   V 

Scene  I.  Morning.  Sherwood  Forest  (as  be- 
fore). Little  John  and  some  of  the  out- 
laws are  gathered  together  talking.  Occa- 
sionally they  look  anxiously  toward  the  cave 
and  at  the  approaches  through  the  wood. 
[Enter  two  foresters,  running  and  breathless.~\ 

FIRST   FORESTER 

The  King's  men!     They  are  scouring  thro'  the 

wood, 
Two  troops  of  them,  five  hundred  men  in  each 
And  more  are  following. 

SECOND    FORESTER 

We  must  away  from  here 
And  quickly. 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Where  did  you  sight  them? 

SECOND    FORESTER 

From  the  old  elm, 
Our    watch-tower.     They    were    not    five    miles 
away ! 

[1897 


SHERWOOD 


FIRST    FORESTER 

Five,  about  five.     We  saw  the  sunlight  flash 
Along,  at  least,  Rvc  hundred  men  at  arms; 
And,  to  the  north,  along  another  line, 
Bigger,  I  think;  but  not  so  near. 

SECOND    FORESTER 

Where's    Robin? 
We  must  away  at  once! 

FIRST    FORESTER 

No  time  to  lose ! 

LITTLE   JOHN 

His  wound  is  bitter  —  I  know  not  if  we  dare 
Move   him! 

FIRST    FORESTER 

His  wound? 

i  LITTLE   JOHN 

Ay,  some  damned  arrow  pierced  him 
When  he  escaped  last  night  from  the  Dark  Tower. 
He  never  spoke  of  it  when  first  he  reached  us; 
And,   suddenly,   he  swooned.     He  is  asleep 
Now.     He'  must  not  be  wakened.     They  will  take 
Some  time  yet  ere  they  thread  our  forest-maze. 
f  190; 


SHERWOOD 


FIRST    FORESTER 

Not  long,  by  God,  not  long.     They  are  moving 

fast. 
[Marian  appears  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave.     All 

turn  to  look  at  her,  expectantly.     She  seems 

in  distress.] 

MARIAN 

He   is   tossing  to   and   fro.     I   think  his  wound 
Has  taken  fever!     What  can  we  do? 

FRIAR   TUCK 

I've  sent 
A  messenger  to  Kirklee  Priory, 
Where  my  old  friend  the  Prioress  hath  store 
Of  balms  and  simples,  and  hath  often  helped 
A  wounded  forester.     Could  we  take  him  there, 
Her  skill  would  quickly  heal  him. 


LITTLE    JOHN 

The  time  is  pressing! 

FRIAR  TUCK 

The  lad  will  not  be  long! 

[Robin  appears  tottering  and  white  at  the  mouth 
of  the  cave.] 

[191] 


SHERWOOD 


MARIAN 
[Running  to  him."] 

O  Robin,  Robin, 
You  must  not  rise!     Your  wound! 

ROBIN 

[He  speaks  feverishly.'] 

Where  can  I  rest 
Better  than  on  my  greenwood  throne  of  turf? 
Friar,  I  heard  them  say  they  had  some  prisoners. 
Bring  them  before  me. 

FRIAR  TUCK 

Master,  you  are  fevered, 
And  they  can  wait. 

ROBIN 

Yes,  yes;  but  there  are  some 
That  cannot  wait,  that  die  for  want  of  food, 
And  then  —  the  Norman  gold  will  come  too  late, 

Too  late. 

\ 

LITTLE   JOHN 

O  master,  you  must  rest. 
[Going  up  to  him.] 

MARIAN 

•  Oh,  help  me, 

Help  me  with  him.     Help  me  to  lead  him  back. 
[  192] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

No !     No !     You  must  not  touch  me !     I  will  rest 
When  I  have  seen  the  prisoners,  not  before. 

LITTLE    JOHN 

He  means  it,  mistress,  better  humour  him 
Or  he  will  break  his  wound  afresh. 


1 


MARIAN 

O  Robin, 

Give  me  your  word  that  you'll  go  back  and  rest, 
When  you  have  seen  them. 


ROBIN     ; 

r 

t  /  Yes,  I  will  try,  I  will  try ! 

But  Oh,  the  sunlight!     Where  better,  sweet,  than 

thisr* 
[She  leads  him  to  the  throne  of  turf  and  he  sits  \ 

down  upon  it,  with  Marian  at  his  side.'] 
The  Friar  is  right.     This  life  is  wine,  red  wine,  \ 
Under  the  greenwood  boughs!     Oh,  still  to  keep  #■ 

One  little  glen  of  justice  in  the  midst  > 

Of  multitudinous  wrong.     Who  knows?     We  yet 
May  leatven  the  whole  world. 
[Enter  the  outlaws,  with  several  prisoners,  among 
them,  a  Knight,  an  Abbot,  and  a  Forester.] 
These  are  the  prisoners  ? 
You  had  some  victims  of  the  forest  laws 
[  193] 


SHERWOOD 


That  came  to  you  for  help.     Bring  them  in,  too, 
And  set  them  over  against  these  lords  of  the  earth ! 

[Some  ragged  women  and  children  appear.  Sev- 
eral serfs  with  iron  collars  round  their  necks 
and  their  eyes  put  out,  are  led  gently  in.~\ 

Is  that  our  Lincoln  green  among  the  prisoners? 

There?     One  of  my  own  band? 

LITTLE    JOHN 

Ay,  more's  the  pity! 
We  took  him  out  of  pity,  and  he  has  wronged 
Our  honour,  Sir;  he  has  wronged  a  helpless  maiden 
Entrusted  to  his  guidance  thro'  the  forest. 

ROBIN 

\  Ever  the  same,  the  danger  comes  from  those 
\We  fight  for,  those  below,  not  those  above! 
Which  of  you  will  betray  me  to  the  King  ? 

THE    FORESTER 

Do  you  ask  me,  sir? 

ROBIN 

Judas  answered  first, 
With  '  Master,  is  it  I?  '     Hang  not  thy  head! 
What  say' st  thou  to  this  charge? 


[  194] 


SHERWOOD 


THE    FORESTER 

Why,  Friar  Tuck 
Can  answer  for  me.     Do  you  think  he  cares 
Less  for  a  woman's  lips  than  I? 

FRIAR  TUCK 

Cares  less, 
Thou  rotten  radish  ?     Nay,  but  a  vast  deal  more ! 
God's  three  best  gifts  to  man, —  woman  and  song 
And  wine,  what  dost  thou  know  of  all  their  joy? 
Thou  lean  pick-purse  of  kisses? 

ROBIN 

Take  him  out, 
Friar,  and  let  him  pack  his  goods  and  go, 
Whither  he  will.     I  trust  the  knave  to  thee 
And  thy  good  quarter-staff,  for  some  five  minutes 
Before  he  says  '  farewell.' 

FRIAR 

Bring  him  along, 
Give  him  a  quarter-staff,  I'll  thrash  him  roundly. 
[He  goes  out.      Two  of  the  foresters  follow  with 
the  prisoner.     Others  bring  the  Abbot  be- 
fore Robin.] 

robin 
Ah !     Ha !     I  know  him,  the  godly  usurer 
Of  York! 

[195] 


SHERWOOD 


LITTLE    JOHN 

We  saw  a  woman  beg  for  alms, 
One  of  the  sufferers  by  the  rule  which  gave 
This  portly  Norman  his  fat  priory 
And  his  abundant  lands.     We  heard  him  say 
That  he  was  helpless,  and  not  one  poor  coin 
To  give  her,  not  a  scrap  of  bread!     He  wears 
Purple  beneath  his  cloak:  his  fine  sleek  palfrey 
Flaunted  an  Emperor's  trappings! 

ABBOT 

Man,   the   Church 
Must  keep  her   dignity! 

ROBIN 
[Pointing  to  the  poor  woman,  etc.~\ 
Ay,  look  at  it ! 
There  is  your  dignity!     And  you  must  wear 
Silk  next  your  skin  to  show  it.     But  there  was  One 
You  call  your  Master,  and  he  had  not  where 
To  lay  his  head,  save  one  of  these  same  trees ! 

ABBOT 

Do  you  blaspheme !     I  pray  you,  let  me  go ! 
There  are  grave  matters  waiting.      I  am  poor! 

ROBIN 

Look  in  his  purse  and  see. 

[196] 


SHERWOOD 


ABBOT 

[Hurriedly.] 

I  have  five  marks 
In  all  the  world,  no  more.     I'll  give  them  to  you  1 

ROBIN 

Look  in  his  purse  and  see. 

[They  pour  a  heap  of  gold  out  of  his  purse.] 

ROBIN 

Five  marks,  indeed! 
Here's,  at  the  least,  a  hundred  marks  in  gold ! 

ABBOT 

That  is  my  fees,  my  fees ;  you  must  not  take  them ! 

ROBIN 

The    ancient   miracle !  —  five    loaves,    two    small 

fishes ; 
And  then  —  of  what  remained  —  they  gathered 

up 
Twelve  basketsful ! 

ABBOT 

Oh,  you  blaspheming  villains ! 

ROBIN 

Abbot,  I  chance  to  know  how  this  was  wrought, 
This  miracle;  wrought  with  the  blood,    anguish 
and  sweat 

[  !97] 


SHERWOOD 


Of  toiling  peasants,  while  the  cobwebs  clustered 
Around  your  lordly  cellars  of  red  wine. 
Give  him  his  five  and  let  him  go. 

ABBOT 

[Going  out.] 

The  King 
Shall  hear  of  this !    The  King  will  hunt  you  down ! 

ROBIN 

And  now  —  the  next  I 

SCARLET 

Beseech  you,  sir,  to  rest, 
Your  wound  will  — 

ROBIN 

No!     The  next,  show  me  the  .next! 

SCARLET 

This  Norman  baron  — 

ROBIN 

What,  another  friend! 
Another  master  of  broad  territories. 
How  many  homes  were  burned  to  make  you  lord 
Of  half  a  shire?     What  hath  he  in  his  purse? 

SCARLET 

Gold  and  to  spare! 

[i98] 


SHERWOOD 


BARON 

To  keep  up  mine  estate 
I  need  much  more. 

ROBIN 

[Pointing  to  the  poor.~\ 

Ay,  you  need  these !  these !  these  !~ 

BARON 

[Protesting.] 
I  am  not  rich. 

ROBIN 

Look  in  his  purse  and  see. 

BARON 

You  dogs,  the  King  shall  hear  of  it  1 

ROBIN 

[Murmuring  as  if  to  himself.  ] 

Five  loaves! 
And  yet,  of  what  remained,  they  gathered  up 
Twelve  baskets ful.     The  bread  of  human  kindnessl 
Goes  far !     Oh,  I  begin  to  see  new  meanings 
In  that  old  miracle!     How  much?     How  much? 

SCARLET 

Five  hundred  marks  in  gold ! 
[  199] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

[Half  rising  and  speaking  with  a  sudden  passion.] 

His  churls  are  starving, 
Starving  I     Their  little  children  cry  for  bread! 
One  of  those  jewels  on  his  baldric  there 
Would  feed  them  all  in  plenty  all  their  lives ! 
Five  loaves  —  and  yet  —  and  yet  —  of  what  re- 
mained, 
The  fragments,  mark  you,  twelve  great  basketsful ! 

BARON 

I  am  in  a  madman's  power !     The  man  is  mad ! 

ROBIN 

Take  all  he  has,  all  you  can  get.     To-night, 
When  all  is  dark  (we  must  have  darkness,  mind, 
For  deeds  like  this)  blind  creatures  will  creep  out 
With  groping  hands  and  gaping  mouths,  lean  arms, 
And  shrivelled  bodies,  branded,  fettered,  lame, 
Distorted,  horrible;  and  they  will  weep 
Great  tears  like  gouts  of  blood  upon  our  feet, 
And  we  shall  succour  them  and  make  them  think 
(That's  if  you  have  not  mangled  their  poor  souls 
As    well,    or   burned    their    children    with    their 

homes ) , 
We'll  try  to  make  them  think  that  some  few  roods 
Of  earth  are  not  so  bitter  as  hell  might  be. 
Are  you  not  glad  to  think  of  this  ?     Nay  —  go  — 
[  200  ] 


SHERWOOD 


Or  else  your  face  will  haunt  me  when  I  die ! 
Take  him  quickly  away.     The  next!     The  next! 
O  God! 

[Flings  up  his  arms  and  falls  fainting.~\ 

MARIAN 
[Bending  over  him.~\ 
O  Robin !     Robin !     Help  him  quickly. 
The  wound!     The  wound! 
[They  gather  round  Robin.      The  outlaws  come     \ 
back  with  the  captive  Forester,   his  pack 
upon  his  hack.]  ^^ 

FRIAR   TUCK 

[To  the  Forester.] 

Now,  get  you  gone,  and  Quickly ! 

What,  what  hath  happened? 

[Friar  Tuck  and  the  outlaws  join  the  throng 
round  Robin.  The  Forester  shakes  his 
fist  at  them  and  goes  across  the  glade,  mut- 
tering. The  Messenger  from  Kirklee 
Priory  comes  out  of  the  forest  at  the  same 
moment  and  speaks  to  him,  not  knowing  of 
his  dismissal.] 

MESSENGER 

All's  well!     Robin  can  come 
To  Kirklee.     Our  old  friend  the  Prioress 
[201  ] 


SHERWOOD 


Is  there,   and  faithful!     They've   all  balms  and 

simples 
To  heal  a  wound. 

FORESTER 
[Staring  at  him.'] 
To  Kirklee? 

MESSENGER 

Yes,   at  sunset, 
We'll  take  him  to  the  borders  of  the  wood 
Where  he  can  steal  in  easily,  alone. 
All  will  be  safe. 

FORESTER 

The  king's  men  are  at  hand ! 

MESSENGER 

Oh,  but  if  we  can  leave  him  there,  all's  safe; 
We'll  dodge  the  king's  men. 

FORESTER 

When  is  he  to  go? 

MESSENGER 

Almost  at  once ;  but  he  must  not  steal  in 
Till  sundown,  when  the  nuns  are  all  in  chapel. 
How  now?     What's  this?     What's  this? 
[He  goes  across  to  the  throng  round  Robin.] 
[  202  ] 


SHERWOOD 


FORESTER 
[Looking  after  him.'] 
Alone,  to  Kirklee! 

[Exit.] 


Scene  II.  A  room  in  Kirklee  Priory.  A  win- 
dow on  the  right  overlooks  a  cloister  leading 
up  to  the  chapel  door.  The  forest  is  seen  in 
the  distance,  the  sun  beginning  to  set  behind 
it. 

[The  Prioress  and  a  Novice  are  sitting  in  a 
windows  eat  engaged  in  broidery  work.] 

novice 

He  must  be  a  good  man  —  this  Robin  Hood ! 
I  long  to  see  him.     Father  used  to  say 
England  had  known  none  like  him  since  the  days 
Of  Hereward  the  Wake. 

PRIORESS 

He  will  be  here 
By  vespers.     You  shall  let  him  in.     Who's  that? 
Can  that  be  he  ?     It  is  not  sundown  yet. 
See  who  is  there. 

[Exit  Novice.     She  returns  excitedly.] 
[203] 


SHERWOOD 


NOVICE 

A  lady  asks  to  see  you! 
She  is  robed  like  any  nun  and  yet  she  spoke 
Like  a  great  lady  —  one  that  is  used  to  rule 
More  than  obey;  and  on  her  breast  I  saw 
A  ruby  smouldering  like  a  secret  fire 
Beneath  her  cloak.     She  bade  me  say  she  came 
On  Robin  Hood's  behest. 

PRIORESS 

What?     Bring  her  in 

Quickly. 

[Exit  Novice  and  returns  with  Queen  Elinor 
in  a  nun's  garb.  At  the  sign  from  the  Pri- 
oress the  Novice  retires.'] 

ELINOR 

Madam,  I  come  to  beg  a  favour. 
I  am  a  friend  of  Robin  Hood.     I  have  heard  — 
One  of  his  Foresters,  this  very  noon 
Brought  me  the  news  —  that  he  is  sorely  wounded ; 
And  purposes  to  seek  your  kindly  help 
At  Kirklee   Priory. 

PRIORESS 

Oh,  then  indeed, 
You  must  be  a  great  friend,  for  this  was  kept 
Most  secret  from  all  others. 
[204] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

A  great  friend! 
He  was  my  page  some  fifteen  years  ago, 
And  all  his  life  I  have  watched  over  him 
As  if  he  were  my  son!     I  have  come  to  beg 
A  favour  —  let  me  see  him  when  he  comes. 
My  husband  was  a  soldier,  and  I  am  skilled  , 
In  wounds.     In  Palestine  I  saved  his  life 
When  every  leech  despaired  of  it,  a  wound 
Caused  by  a  poisoned  arrow. 

PRIORESS 

You  shall  see  him. 
I  have  some  skill  myself  in  balms  and  simples, 
But,  in  these  deadlier  matters  I  would  fain 
Trust  to  your  wider  knowledge. 

ELINOR 

Let  me  see  him  alone ; 
Alone,  you  understand.     His  mind  is  fevered. 
I  have  an  influence  over  him.     Do  not  say 
That  I  am  here,  or  aught  that  will  excite  him. 
Better  say  nothing  —  lead  him  gently  in, 
And  leave  him.     In  my  hands  he  is  like  a  child. 

PRIORESS 

It  shall  be  done.     I  see  you  are  subtly  versed 
In  the  poor  workings  of  our  mortal  minds. 
[205] 


SHERWOOD 


ELINOR 

I  learnt  much  from  a  wise  old  Eastern  leech 
When  I  was  out  in  Palestine. 

PRIORESS 

I  have  heard 
They  have  great  powers  and  magic  remedies; 
They  can  restore  youth  to  the  withered  frame. 

ELINOR 

There  is  only  one  thing  that  they  cannot  do. 

PRIORESS 

And  what? 

ELINOR 

i    They  cannot  raise  the  dead. 

PRIORESS 

Ah,  no; 
I  am  most  glad  to  hear  you  say  it,  most  glad 
To  know  we  think  alike.     That  is  most  true  — 
Yes  —  yes  —  most    true ;    for    GojL-aietie,    dear 

friend, 
Can  raise  the  dead  I 

[A  bell  begins  tolling  slowly.'] 

The  bell  for  even-song  I 
You  have  not  long  to  wait. 
[206] 


SHERWOOD 


[Shadowy  figures  of  nuns  pass  the  windows  and 
enter  the  chapel.      The  sunset  deepens.] 

Will  you  not  pray 

With  me? 

[The  Prioress  and  Queen  Elinor  kneel  down 
together  before  a  little  shrine.  Enter  the 
Novice.] 

novice 

There  is  a  forester  at  the  door. 
Mother,  I  think  'tis  he! 

prioress 
[Rising.] 

Admit  him,  then. 

ELINOR 
Leave  me;  I  will  keep  praying  till  he  comes. 

PRIORESS 

You  are  trembling!     You  are  not  afraid? 

ELINOR 

[With  eyes  closed  as  in  strenuous  devotion.] 

No;  no; 
Leave  me,  I  am  but  praying  1 
[A  chant  swells  up  in  the  chapel.     Exit  Prioress. 
Elinor  continues  muttering  as  in  prayer.] 
[207] 


SHERWOOD 


r 


Afraid  —  to  paint 
A  picture  of  agony  on  a  distant  face, 
To  see  with  every  stroke  here,  the  strange  lines 
Gathering  on  Marian's  face  —  a  little  face ! 
It  grows  now,  grows  between  me  and  the  sky ; 
Big  as  the  sky,  and  I  shall  watch  the  lines 
Crawl  over  it,  of  suffering,  torture,  horror. 
[Enter  Robin   Hood,  steadying  himself  on  his 
bow,  weak  and  white.     She  rises  and  passes 
between  him  and  the  door  to  confront  him.] 

ELINOR 
Ah,  Robin,  you  have  come  to  me  at  last 
For  healing.    JPretty  Marian  cannot  help  you 
With  all  her  kisses. 


ROBIN    HOOD 
{Staring  at  her  wildly.] 

You !     I  did  not  know 
That  you  were  here.     I  did  not  ask  your  help. 
I  must  go  — ■  Marian ! 

[He  tries  to  reach  the  door,  but  reels  in  a  half 
faint  on  the  way.  Elinor  supports  him  as 
he  pauses,  panting  for  breath.] 

ELINOR 

Robin,  your  heart  is  hard, 
Both  to  yourself  and  me.     You  cannot  go, 
Rejecting  the  small  help  which  I  can  give 

[208] 


SHERWOOD 


As  if  I  were  a  leper.     Ah,  come  back. 
Are  you  so  unforgiving?     God  forgives! 
Did  you  not  see  me  praying  for  your  sake? 
Think,  if  you  think  not  of  yourself,  Oh,  think 
Of  Marian  —  can  you  leave  her  clinging  arms 
Yet,  for  the  cold  grave,  Robin?     I  have  risked 
Much,  life  itself,  to  bring  you  help  this  day ! 
I  have  some  skill  in  wounds. 
[She  holds  him  closer  and  brings  her  face  near  to 
his  own,  looking  up  into  his  eyes.] 

Ah,  do  you  know 
How  slowly,  how  insidiously  this  death 
Creeps,  coil  by  tightening  coil,  around  a  man, 
When  he  is  weak  as  you  are  ?     Do  you  know 
How  the  last  subtle  coil  slips  round  your  throat 
And  the  flat  snake-like  head  lifts  up  and  peers 
With  cruel  eyes  of  cold,  keen  inquisition, 
Rivetting  your  own,  until  the  blunt  mouth  sucks 
Your  breath  out  with  one  long,  slow,  poisonous 
kiss? 

ROBIN   HOOD 
O  God,  that  nightmare !     Leave  me !     Let  me  go ! 

ELINOR 

You  stare  at  me  as  if  you  saw  that  snake, 
Ha !     Ha  !     Your  nerves  are  shaken ;  you  are  so 
weak! 

[209] 


SHERWOOD 


c 


You  cannot  go!  What!  Fainting?  Ah,  rest 
here 

Upon  this  couch. 

[She  half  supports,  half  thrusts  him  back  to  a 
couch,  in  an  alcove  out  of  sight  and  draws 
a  curtain.     There  is  a  knock  at  the  door.] 

ELINOR 

Who's  there? 

PRIORESS 

Madam,  I  came 
To  know  if  I  could  help  in  anything. 

ELINOR 

Nothing !     His  blood  runs  languidly.     It  needs 

The  pricking  of  a  vein  to  make  the  heart 

Beat,  and  the  sluggish  rivers  flow.    I  have  brought 

A  lance  for  it.     I'll  let  a  little  blood. 

Not  over-much;  enough,  enough  to  set 

The  pulses  throbbing. 

PRIORESS 

Maid  Marian  came  with  him. 
She  waits  without  and  asks  — 

ELINOR 

Let  her  not  come 
Near  him  till  all  is  done.     Let  her  not  know 
[210] 


SHERWOOD 


Anything,  or  the  old  fever  will  awake. 

I'll  lance  his  arm  now! 

[The  Prioress  closes  the  door.  Elinor  goes 
into  the  alcove.  The  chant  from  the  chapel 
swells  up  again.  Queen  Elinor  comes  out 
of  the  alcove,  white  and  trembling.  She 
speaks  in  a  low  whisper  as  she  looks  back.] 

Now,  trickle  down,  sweet  blood.  Grow  white, 
fond  lips 

That  have  kissed  Marian  —  yet,  she  shall  not 
boast 

You  kissed  her  last;  for  I  will  have  you  wake 

To  the  fierce  memory  of  this  kiss  in  heaven 

Or  burn  with  it  in  hell; 

[She  kneels  down  as  if  to  kiss  the  face  of  Robin, 
within.      The  chant  from   the  chapel  swells 
up  more  loudly.      The   door  slowly    opens^ 
Marian  steals  in.     FjJKQ?  *****  /!^djH2nm 
fronts  her.] 

ELINOR 

[Laying  a  hand  upon  Robin's  how  beside  her.] 
Hush !     Do  not  wake  him ! 


MARIAN 
[In  a  low  voice.'] 
What  have  you  done  with  him? 

[211] 


SHERWOOD 


r 


ELINOR 

[As  Marian  advances  towards  the  couch."] 

He  is  asleep. 

Hush !     Not  a  step  further !     Stay  where  you  are ! 

His  life 
Hangs  on  a  thread. 

MARIAN 

Why  do  you  stare  upon  me? 
What  have  you  done?     What's  this  that  trickles 

down  — 
[Stoops  to  the  floor  and  leaps  back  with  a  scream.] 
It  is  blood !     You  have  killed  him ! 

[Elinor  seizes  the  bow  and  shoots.     Marian 
falls.] 

ELINOR 

Follow  him  —  down  to  hell. 
King  John  will  find  you  there. 

[Exit.      The  scene  grows  dark.] 

MARIAN 

[Lifts  her  head  with  a  groan.] 

I  am  dying,  Robin! 
O  God,  I  cannot  wake  him !     Robin !     Robin ! 
Give  me  one  word  to  take  into  the  dark ! 

[212] 


SHERWOOD 


He  will  not  wake !     He  will  not  wake !     O  God, 

Help  him! 

[She  falls  back  unconscious.     Shadow-of-a-Leaf,    i 
a  green  spray  in  his  hand,  opens  the  casement 
and  stands   for  a   moment   in    the   window 
against  the  last  glow  of  the  sunset,  then  en- 
ters and  runs  to  the  side  of  Robin.] 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 

[Hurriedly.] 

Awake,  awake,  Robin,  awake! 
The  forest  waits  to  help  you  I     All  the  leaves 
Are  listening  for  your  bugle.     Ah,  where  is  it? 
Let  but  one  echo  sound  and  the  wild  flowers 
Will  break  thro'  these  grey  walls  and  the  green 

sprays 
Drag  down  these  deadly  towers.     Wake,  Robin, 

wake, 
And  let  the  forest  drown  the  priest's  grey  song 
With  happy  murmurs.     Robin,  the  gates  are  open 
For  you  and  Marian!     All  I  had  to  give 
I  have  given  to  thrust  them  open,  the  dear  gates 
Of  fairyland  which  I  shall  never  pass 
Again.     I  can  no  more,  I  am  but  a  shadow, 
Dying  as  mortals  die !     It  is  not  I 
That  calls,  not  I,  but  Marian.     Hear  her  voice  I 
Robin,  awake!     Farewell  for  evermore. 

[Exit  lingeringly  through  the  casement. .] 
[213] 


SHERWOOD 


r 


ROBIN 

[Robin  is  dimly  seen  in  the  mouth  of  the  alcove. 
He  stretches  out  his  hands  blindly  in  the 
dark.] 

Marian!     Why  do  you  call  to  me  in  dreams? 

Why  do  you  call  me?     I  must  go.     What's  this? 

Help  me,  kind  God,  for  I  must  say  one  word, 

Only  one  word  —  good-bye  —  to  Marian, 

To  Marian  —  Ah,  too  weak,  too  weak ! 

[He  sees  the  dark  body  of  Marian  and  utters  a 
cry,  falling  on  his  knees  beside  her.~\ 

OGod, 

Marian !     Marian ! 

My  bugle !     Ah,  my  bugle ! 

[He  rises  to  his  feet  and,  drowning  the  distant 
organ-music,  he  blows  a  resounding  forest- 
call.  It  is  answered  by  several  in  the  forest. 
He  falls  on  his  knees  by  Marian  and  takes 
her  in  his  arms.] 

O  Marian,  Marian,  who  hath  used  thee  so? 

MARIAN 
Robin,  it  is  my  death-wound.     Ah,  come  close. 

ROBIN 

Marian,  Marian,  what  have  they  done  to  thee? 
[  The  Outlaws  are  heard  thundering  at  the  gates 
with  cries. ~\ 

[214] 


SHERWOOD 

1 


OUTLAWS 

Robin!     Robin!     Robin!     Break      down       the 

doors. 
[The  terrified  nuns  stream  past  the  window,  out 

of  the  chapel.      The  OUTLAWS  rush  into  the 

room.     The  scene  still  darkens.] 

SCARLET 

Robin  and  Marian! 

LITTLE   JOHN 

Christ,  what  devil's  hand 
Hath  played  the  butcher  here  ?     Quick,  hunt  them 

down, 
They  passed  out  yonder.     Let  them  not  outlive 
Our  murdered  king  and  queen. 

REYNOLD   GREENLEAF 

O  Robin,  Robin, 
Who  shot  this  bitter  shaft  into  her  breast? 
[Several  stoop  and  kneel  by  the  two  lover s.~\ 

ROBIN    HOOD 

Speak  to  me,  Marian,  speak  to  me,  only  speak ! 

Just  one  small  word,  one  little  loving  word 

Like    those  —  do    you    remember  ?  —  you    have 

breathed 
So  many  a  time  and  often,  against  my  cheek, 
Under  the  boughs  of  Sherwood,  in  the  dark 

[215] 


SHERWOOD 


At  night,  with  nothing  but  the  boughs  and  stars 
Between  us  and  the  dear  God  up  in  heaven ! 
O  God,  why  does  a  man's  heart  take  so  long 
To  break?     It  would  break  sooner  if  you  spoke 
A  word  to  me,  a  word,  one  small  kind  word. 

MARIAN 

Sweetheart ! 

ROBIN 
Sweetheart !     You  have  broken  it,  broken  it !     Oh, 

kind, 
Kind  heart  of  Marian! 

j  MARIAN 

i Robin,  come  soonj 

ROBIN 
Soon,  sweetheart!     Oh,   her  sweet  brave  soul  is 

gone! 
Marian,  I  follow  quickly! 

SCARLET 

God,  Kirklee 
Shall  burn  for  this ! 

LITTLE   JOHN 
Kirklee  shall  burn  for  this ! 
O  master,  master,  you  shall  be  avenged! 

[216] 


SHERWOOD 


ROBIN 

No;  let  me  stand  upright!     Your  hand,    good 

Scarlet ! 
We  have  lived  our  life  and  God  be  thanked  we  go 
Together  thro'  this  darkness.     We  shall  wake, 
Please  God,  together.     It  is  growing  darker! 
I  cannot  see  your  faces.     Give  me  my  bow 
Quickly  into  my  hands,  for  my  strength  fails 
And  I  must  shoot  one  last  shaft  on  the  trail 
Of  yonder  setting  sun,  never  to  reach  it ! 
But  where  this  last,  last  bolt  of  all  my  strength, 
My  hope,  my  love,  shall  fall,  there  bury  us  both, 
Together,  and  tread  the  green  turf  over  us ! 
The  bow ! 
[Scarlet  hands  him  his  bow.     He  stands  against 

the  faint  glow  of  the  window,  draws  the  bow 

to  full  length,  shoots  and  falls  back  into  the 

arms  of  Little  John.] 

LITTLE   JOHN 

[Laying  him  down.] 

Weep,  England,  for  thine  outlawed  lover, 

Dear  Robin  Hood,  the  poor  man's  friend,  is  dead. 

[The  scene  becomes  quite  dark.      Then  out  of  the 

darkness,  and  as  if  at  a  distance,  the  voice  of 

Shadow-OF-a-leaf  is  heard  singing  the  fairy 

song  of  the  first  scene.      The  fairy  glade  in 

Sherwood  begins  to  be  visible  in  the  gloom 

[217] 


SHERWOOD 


( 


by  the  soft  light  of  the  ivory  gates  which  are 
swinging  open  once  more  among  the  ferns. 
As  the  scene  grows  clearer  the  song  of 
Shadow-of-a-leaf  grows  more  and  more 
triumphant  and  is  gradually  caught  up  by  the 
chorus  of  the  fairy  host  within  the  woods. ] 

[Song  of  Shadow-of-a-leaf.] 


The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
The  world  begins  again! 
And  O,  the  red  of  the  roses, 

And  the  rush  of  the  healing  rain ! 

\ 
II 

The  Forest  has  conquered !     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
The  Princess  wakes  from  sleep ; 
For  the  soft  green  keys  of  the  wood-land 
Have  opened  her  donjon-keep ! 

in 

The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
Their  grey  walls  hemmed  us  round ; 
But,  under  my  green-wood  oceans, 

Their  castles  are  trampled  and  drowned. 

[218] 


SHERWOOD 


IV 


The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
My  green  sprays  climbed  on  high, 
And  the  ivy  laid  hold  on  their  turrets 
And  haled  them  down  from  the  sky ! 


The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
They  were  strong !    They  are  over-thrown ! 
For  the  little  soft  hands  of  the  wild-flowers 
Have  broken  them,  stone  by  stone. 

VI 

The  Forest  has  conquered !     The  Forest  has  con--*] 
quered!     The  Forest  has  conquered! 
Though  Robin  lie  dead,  lie  dead, 
And  the  green  turf  by  Kirklee 
Lie  light  over  Marian's  head, 


VII 

Green  ferns  on  the  crimson  sky-line, 
What  bugle  have  you  heard? 
Was  it  only  the  peal  of  the  blue-bells, 
Was  it  only  the  call  of  a  bird? 


[219] 


SHERWOOD 


VIII 

The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
The  rose  o'er  the  f ortalice  floats ! 
My  nightingales  chant  in  their  chapels,  . 
My  lilies  have  bridged  their  moats ! 

IX 

The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
King  Death,  in  the  light  of  the  sun, 
Shrinks  like  an  elfin  shadow ! 
His  reign  is  over  and  done ! 


The  hawthorn  whitens  the  wood-land; 
My  lovers,  awake,  awake, 
.    Shake  off  the  grass-green  coverlet, 
\     Glide,  bare-foot,  thro*  the  brake ! 

XI 

The  Forest  has  conquered !     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
And,  under  the  great  green  boughs, 

\I  have  found  out  a  place  for  my  lovers, 
I  have  built  them  a  beautiful  house. 


[  22°  ] 


SHERWOOD 


XII 

Green  ferns  in  the  dawn-red  dew-fall, 

This  gift  by  my  death  I  give, — 
They  shall  wander  immortal  thro1  Sherwood ! 
In  my  great  green  house  they  shall  live !  \ 

XIII 

The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
When  the  first  wind  blows  from  the  South, 
They  shall  meet  by  the  Gates  of  Faerie ! 
She  shall  set  her  mouth  to  his  mouth ! 


XIV 

He  shall  gather  her,  fold  her  and  keep  her; 

They  shall  pass  thro'  the  Gates,  they  shall 
live! 
For  the  Forest,  the  Forest  has  conquered ! 
This  gift  by  my  death  I  give ! 

XV 

The  Forest  has  conquered!     The  Forest  has  con- 
quered!    The  Forest  has  conquered! 
The  world  awakes  anew ; 
And  O,  the  scent  of  the  hawthorn, 
And  the  drip  of  the  healing  dew ! 
[The  song  ceases.     Titania  and  Oberon  come 
out  into  the  moon-lit  glade.] 
[221 } 


SHERWOOD 


OBERON 

Yet  one  night  more  the  gates  of  fairyland 
Are  opened  by  a  mortal's  kindly  deed. 
But  Robin  Hood  and  Marian  now  are  driven 
As  we  shall  soon  be  driven,  from  the  world 
Of  cruel  mortals. 

TITANIA 

Mortals  call  them  dead; 
Oberon,  what  is  death  ? 

OBERON 

Only  a  sleep. 
But  these  may  dream  their  happy  dreams  in  death 
Before  they  wake  to  that  new  lovely  life 
Beyond  the  shadows;  for  poor  Shadow-of-a-Leaf 
Has  given  them  this  by  love's  eternal  law 
Of  sacrifice,  and  they  shall  enter  in  _ 
To  dream  their  lover's  dream  in  fairyland. 

TITANIA 

And  Shadow-of-a-Leaf? 

OBERON 

He   cannot  enter  now. 
The  gates  are  closed  against  him. 

TITANIA 

But  is  this 
For  ever? 

[  222  ] 


HE   CANNOT  ENTER   NOW. 
THE    GATES    ARE    CLOSED   AGAINST    HIM"  Page   222 


SHERWOOD 


OBERON 

We  fairies  have  not  known  or  heard 
What  waits  for  those  who,  like  this  wandering 

Fool, 
Throw  all  away  for  love.     But  I  have  heard 
There  is  a  great  King,  out  beyond  the  world, 
Not  Richard,  who  is  dead,  nor  yet  King  John ; 
But  a  great  King  who  one  day  will  come  home 
Clothed  with  the  clouds  of  heaven  from  His  Cru- 
sade. 

TITANIA 
The  great  King! 

OBERON 

Hush,  the  poor  dark  mortals  come ! 
[The  crowd  of  serfs,  old  men,  poor  women,  the 
children,  begin  to  enter  as  the  fairy  song 
swells  up  within  the  gates  again.  Robin 
and  Marian  are  led  along  by  a  crowd  of 
fairies  at  the  end  of  the  procession.] 

TITANIA 

And  there,  see,  there  come  Robin  and  his  bride. 
And  the  fairies  lead  them  on,  strewing  their  path 
With  ferns  and  moon-flowers.     See,  they  have  en- 
tered in ! 

[The  last  fairy  vanishes  throy  the  gates.] 
[223] 


SHERWOOD 


OBERON 

And  we  must  follow,  for  the  gates  may  close 

For  ever  now.     Hundreds  of  years  may  pass 

Before  another  mortal  gives  his  life 

To  help  the  poor  and  needy. 

[Oberon  and  TlTANlA  follow  hand  in  hand  thro' 
the  gates.  They  begin  to  close.  Shadow- 
OF-A-Leaf  steals  wistfully  and  hesitatingly 
across,  as  if  to  enter.  They  close  in  his  face. 
He  goes  up  to  them  and  leans  against  them 
sobbing,  a  small  green  figure,  looking  like  a 
greenwood  spray  against  their  soft  ivory 
glow.  The  fairy  music  dies.  He  sinks  to 
his  knees  and  holds  up  his  hands.  Imme- 
diately a  voice  is  heard  singing  and  drawing 
nearer  thro}  the  forest.] 

[Song  —  drawing  nearer.] 

Knight  on  the  narrow  way, 

Where  wouldst  thou  ride? 
*  Onward,'  I  heard  him  say, 

4  Love,  to  thy  side !  ' 


4  Nay,'  sang  a  bird  above, 

4  Stay,  for  I  see 
Death  in  the  mask  of  love 

Waiting  for  thee.' 

[224] 


SHERWOOD 


[Enter  Blondel,   leading  a  great  white  steed. 
He  stops  and  looks  at  the  kneeling  figure.] 

BLONDEL 

Shadow-of-a-Leaf ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 
[Rising  to  his  feet.] 
Blondel! 

BLONDEL 

I  go  to  seek 
My  King ! 

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 
[In  passionate  grief. ] 
The  king  is  dead! 

BLONDEL 

[In  yet  more  passionate  joy  and  triumph.] 

The  great  King  lives! 
[ Then  more  tenderly.] 
Will  you  not  come  andTpok  for  Him  with  me  ? 
[ They  go  slowly  together  through  the  forest  and 
are  lost  to  sight.     Blondel's  i;Ace  is  heard 
singing  the  third  stanza  of  the  song  in  the 
distance,  further  and  further  away.] 
1  Death?     What  is  Death?  '  he  cried,  etc. 
I  must  ride  on !  ' 

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